Self Evaluation in Department of Communicable Diseases, Faculty of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences

Abstract

Introduction: Self evaluation is a process that defines and collects required data to judge about decision making issues at educational system on whether the educational department is fit to educate students? The objective of this study was determining the quality of the structural elements of the department of Communicable Diseases & determining the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats to improve the quality of activities in the department under research. Materials and Methods: The employed method was Mixed methods (qualitative & quantitative research), on the basis of 10 procedural steps and within 8 sections dealing with evaluated factors; such as 1) organizational and management structure 2) scientific board members 3) students 4) Manpower 5) Space of educational research and health care 6) Equipment 7) curriculum 8) satisfaction of graduates, which were studied using 61 criteria and 172 indicators. Five-point Likert Scale was used for the responses in the questionnaire (1 - 1.75 = undesirable, to 4.2 - 5 completely desirable). Finally the data were analyzed using descriptive statistics indices and the assessment software of the Educational Development Center of TUMS. The instruments used in this method included assessment software, interview, observation and self-prepared questionnaire which consisted of 7 questionnaires and 2 check lists. Finding: The results of the research showed that general average of 8 investigating sections was 56.9% as a rather desirable research work. Conclusions: Therefore, it was concluded that function of the educational management in that group was directly in line with evaluation process, but continuing the process of evaluation seems necessary.