Self evaluation for quality improvment in department of internal medicine of Semnan university of medical sciences

Introduction. Evaluation plays an important role in quality improvment of education. The aim of this study was self-evaluation of the internal medicine department in Semnan university of medical sciences. Materials and Methods. The internal evaluation has been used to evaluate the department activities. In May 1998, six different sets factor of department includ ing educational, therapeutic, research, organization, teaching process and logistic elements were evaluated. In educational objectives the first 3 years of residentship, trainee and intern periods, in therapeutic objectives prognostic facilities (such as labrat ory, phototherapy X-ray and endoscopy), in research objectives research activities of the members of department (such as number of published articles, participation in congress), in organizational objectives management of department, committee and members of department and in logistic elements equi pments, working rooms and staff of department were evaluated. Data collection was carried out by 31 questionnaires and 550 critria. According to the Gourman definition, the obtained dat a classified between 1 to 5 and then analyzed. The scores lower than 2.6 were called "unsatisfactory". Results. In educational objectives, the maximum score was 3.45 and was gained in the first year of residentship, while the minimum one was 2.85 belongs to the trainee period. In general, the educational objectives with 3.14 score classified at the level of "more than satisfactory". The therapeutic objectives had the maximum score of 4 for endoscopy department and the average of 4.1 score as "high level". The results of evaluation for organization led to the score 3.42 for management, 3.8 for committee and 2.9 for members of department. Research objectives was classified as "satisfied" with 2.67 and finally the logistic elements were located in "good" level with 3.1 score. Conclusion. The results showed that internal medicine department with 3.34 specified in the level of "more than satisfa ctory" which indicates its satisfactory activities.The overall evaluation shows success in the department but the results indicate some weaknesses in the members, research and health activitis. Based on these, development planning has been considered to improve the department