Do Interns Achieve Learning Outcomes up to Faculty Members’ Expectations?

Background and Purpose: In an era of increasing professional accountability, there is a need for both medical educators and licensing bodies to identify the exit competencies expected from medical graduates. Pediatrics department of Isfahan University of medical sciences has defined learning outcomes that should be achieved in pediatric ambulatory setting and both learners and teachers were informed about these outcomes. The aim of this study is to compare faculties’ expectation and interns’ self-assessment about their achievement of learning outcomes at pediatric out-patient clinics.Methods: In this cross-sectional study conducted in October and November 2005 a list of 63 learning outcomes was prepared. In the first phase, all faculty members were asked to specify desired level of achievement on 0-3 analogue scale for each outcome. In second phase, interns were acquired to selfevaluate their level of achievement in these competencies based on the above scale.Results: In this study 53 interns and 6 faculty members participated. Interns were expected to be fully competent with respect to eleven learning outcomes. There was a significant difference between faculties’ expectations and interns’ self assessment in 6 of full competency requiring outcomes and in 13 of high competency requiring outcomes.Conclusion: Interns’ achievement seems unsatisfactory regarding outcomes requiring full and high competency achievement and pediatrics department can revised its curriculum based on the results of this study and improve teaching and learning in the outpatient services.