Internal evaluation of social medicine department of Semnan university of medical sciences (2002)

Introduction: Group internal evaluation of the medical education has an outstanding position in medicine. Social medicine department as an educational group and with a community –based view, evolving with training the efficient medical students, plays an important role in programming. This research has been performed to determine the output of the educational and non-educational activities and also to assess the level of the favorable factors which are effective on them. It is also important to promote the social medicine department activities. Materials; Methods: This study has been carried out in 2002 by using the accreditation pattern and the categorization of Gorman. The factors that were evaluated including head of department, academic faculty members, field, devices and equipments. Data were collected via questionnaire, check list and then were analyzed.Totally, more than 600 criterions with the various features were evaluated. Results: The results showed that the head of department got a ranking with 2.54 points which was satisfactory. The instructors got 2.02 points in research and scientific activities, having communication with the scientific centers (2 points in borderline ranking) and also they were in a high ranking in educational history and specialized majors, behavioral pattern administrative duties, attending in university sectors .They were given a good ranking by students due to well –presenting the theoretical courses, in stagery and internship, they obtained a high satisfied score to a top ranking. The most shortage was observed in instruments and equipments in village health centers. The most appropriate situation was with regard to technical and administrative tools available in places where medical students accommodated. Conclusion: Results showed that the faculty members in social medicine department in Semnan university of medical sciences require further research activities with the other scientific centers. However, they were in a favorable situation in many criteria. Furthermore, this department needs more supports in the field of equipments and improving the educational activities.