Trend of tendency to critical thinking among medical students in Tehran University of Medical Sciences, 2010–2015: A longitudinal study
نویسندگان
1 Students' Scientific Research Center, Tehran University of Medical science, Tehran, Iran MD, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences
2 Students' Scientific Research Center, Tehran University of Medical science, Tehran, Iran
3 Emergency Department, Farabi Hospital, Mashhad, Iran
4 Students' Scientific Research Center, Tehran University of Medical science, Tehran, Iran, Education Development Center, Tehran University of Medical science, Tehran, Nursing and Midwifery Care Research Center, Mashhad University Of Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
5 School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences Students' Scientific Research Center, Tehran University of Medical science, Tehran, Iran
6 Students' Scientific Research Center, Tehran University of Medical science, Tehran, Iran, Education Development Center, Tehran University of Medical science, Tehran, Iran
7 Education Development Center, Tehran University of Medical science, Tehran, Iran Affiliated Associate Professor of Department of Clinical Science and Education at SOS Hospital, Karolina Institute, Stockholm, Sweden
doi
چکیده
BACKGROUND: Critical thinking is one of the goals of education. It is a criterion for academicaccreditation in medical education by concentration on students’ soft skills. Due to lack of basicinformation on critical thinking tendency in undergraduate medical program, this study aimed todetermine the trend of tendency toward critical thinking of medical students in two phases: basicscience (year 1) and preinternship (year 5) at Tehran University of Medical Sciences.MATERIALS AND METHODS: This longitudinal descriptive–analytic study has been conductedin two phases (2010 and 2015); all 105 medical students were selected by accessible samplingmethod. Years of entrance to college was the inclusion criterion. The psychometric properties of TheCalifornia Critical Thinking Dispositions Inventory (CCTDI) were confirmed, and then, the instrumentwas completed twice by participants. Data were analyzed by SPSS: 16 using student t-test, andpaired t-tests.RESULTS: There was a significant difference between genders of students (P < 0.05). Males weremore disposed toward critical thinking than females. The significant increase was found between meanof truth‑seeking in the second test compared to the first test; instead, the mean of inquisitiveness,analyticity and self‑confidence and inquisitiveness was significantly decreased (P < 0.05).However, in other subscales, there were no significant differences between the 1st and the 5th yearstudents (P > 0.05). The total score of the test in the second phase was lower than the first phase,which was not significant.CONCLUSION: According to the findings, there is necessary to consider the critical thinkingdispositions in medical students training programs and break down the barriers. Tendency towardcritical thinking seems to be as prerequisite of critical thinking skills in undergraduate medical program.
