Iranian Journal of Medical Education

Introduction: One of the most important challenges in outcome based education is to understand the necessity of acquiring competences by students. The purpose of this study was to investigate students’ views and attitudes towards the introduction of expected competences in the undergraduate medical education program.
Methods: This quasi-experimental study used a one-group pretest-posttest design. A total of 442 medical freshmen were selected by census method and participated in the competence introduction program. After showing a footage, students would discuss and brainstorm about the scenes on the expected competences. Pretest and posttest were administered to compare the students’ attitudes toward the importance of obtaining the competences. A researcher-made evaluation questionnaire was completed by the participants at the end of the program. Descriptive statistics and dependent t-test were used to analyze the data.
Results: Most of the students (83.5%) stated by participating in the program they could develop a clear understanding of the expected competences. In addition, 69.7% of the students said that the program increased their motivation for learning and reinforced their competences during their studies. There was also a significant difference between the students’ understanding of the importance of acquiring the competences before and after the program in some areas including effective communication with patients and their families (p=0.03, t=2.15), interaction with medical team members, nurses and colleagues ( p>0.01, t=2.90), work-life balance (p=0.01, t=2.40), stress and emotions management ability (p>0.01, t=2.72), ability to collect and critique valid information (p=0.02, t=2.37), and familiarity with the healthcare system (8p=0.03, t=2.25).
Conclusion: Most of the students believed that the competences introduction program at the beginning of the undergraduate medical education program is necessary and that their attendance at this program has increased their motivation to acquire and reinforce the competences during their studies.