Iranian Journal of Medical Education

Introduction: Social capital has been increasingly attracted scholars’ attention in recent years because organizations can improve their effectiveness through establishing, strengthening and developing this intangible but valuable capital. Hence the present study was conducted with the aim of identifying the relationship and predicting effective training through social capital dimensions. Methods: In this descriptive-correlational study, a number of 240 faculty members of Tabriz University of Medical Sciences were selected through stratified random sampling in 2015. Data collection tools were Ghoshal & Nahapiat’s standard social capital questionnaire and a researcher-made effective training questionnaire. The data were analyzed using correlation tests and moderated multiple regression. Results: The mean scores of trust, empathy and effective training variables were respectively 3.25±0.80, 3.90±0.58 and 3.80±0.60 (out of 5). Findings showed a significant positive correlation between trust and empathy and effective training (r=0.12; r=0.40; P<0.05). Moreover, the interactive role of trust and empathy in effective training of medical sciences faculty members was confirmed (β=0.256 and ∆R2=0.226 and p<0.05). Conclusion: According to the findings of the present research, there was a correlation between trust, empathy dimensions of social capital and effective training. On the other hand, the interactive role of trust and empathy in effective training was confirmed. Therefore, planning for establishing a proper environment in relation to social capital in universities and accordingly informing faculty members are of great necessity.