Developing a Modular Educational Framework and its Applicability in Clinical Education

Background and purpose: The purpose of the study was to evaluate the present situation of modular education, to develop a modular educational framework for higher education and to consult its applicability in clinical education Methods: An introspective analytical descriptive study was conducted to identify the indices of modular educational framework which was used as a template to evaluate the present and ideal situations of modular education. The participants were all lecturers and authorities in modulareducation who rated the present situation and the ideal situation of modular education based on a five scale criteria. Field observations and interview with the authorities were also conducted to probe the present and ideal situations in more details. The final modular educational framework was presented for consultation with authorities in modular education and experts in clinical education.Results: The modular educational framework was developed in 11 scales and 110 subscales. The present situation was moderate only in planning scale. In all the other scales and subscales, the present situation was rated significantly lower than the ideal situation. Clinical experts in healtheducation had consensus over the applicability of MEF in the clinical education. Conclusion: The developed framework is recommended for designing, implementing, evaluating, managing, accrediting and reengineering of modular instruction. The framework is also applicable in clinical education.