70 1608-9359 Medical Education Development Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences 3862 other Title: Critical Appraisal: mechanisms for promoting mentorship program: a qualitative study Araghiyan Mojarad Fereshteh Salehi nia Hamid Jooybari Leila Sanagoo Akram 1 4 2015 15 281 285 06 09 2015 12 10 2015
3854 Teacher Evaluation The importance of teacher evaluation at students' perspective, a forgotten necessarily Javadinia Seyed Alireza 1 4 2015 15 277 280 30 08 2015 10 10 2015 3391 Teaching Methods Effects of Formative Assessment on Medical Students’ Learning Outcomes in Anatomy and Histology Courses in Isfahan University of Medical Sciences Abutorabi Roshanak Hashemi beni Batool Asgari moqadaam Marzieh Qari alavijeh Abbas 1 4 2015 15 269 276 22 08 2014 22 06 2015 Introduction: Research has shown that formative assessment along with summative assessment improves quality of education, motivation to study, and self-directed learning among students. This study aimed to examine the effects of formative assessment as well as summative assessment on medical students’ learning outcomes in anatomy and histology courses in Isfahan University of Medical Sciences. Methods: In this quasi-experimental study all medical students who took anatomy and histology courses in 2012 (control group) and 2013 (experimental group) were selected through available sampling. The formative assessment was used as an educational intervention along with the summative assessment. The number of anatomy students was 54 in the experimental group and 64 in the control group. The number of histology students was 60 in both the experimental and control groups. Data were analyzed by means of descriptive and inferential statistics (independent t test). Results: The mean scores of the anatomy course tests were 11.89±2.01 in the experimental group and 13. 32±2.73 in the control group which indicated a significant difference in these groups (p=0.012, t=2.605). The mean scores of the histology course tests were 13.50±2.27 in the experimental group and 13.82±2.58 in the control group which showed no significant difference between mean scores of the two groups (p=0.447, t=0.765). Conclusion: Not only did the use of formative assessment in the form of multiple-choice tests not enhance students’ scores as an indication of their learning, it also significantly reduced students’ scores and learning in the anatomy course. 3840 other Common problems in writing references of articles that submitted to Iranian Journal of Medical Education Rezaei Habibollah Davaripour Azadeh 1 4 2015 15 266 268 19 08 2015 27 09 2015 3780 other Linear regression, the normal distribution of error values or normal distribution of the dependent variable? Behnam far Reza Rasti Azam 1 4 2015 15 263 265 07 07 2015 22 07 2015 3673 Program Evaluation Quality Assessment of Educational Services in Nursing and Midwifery School of Kerman Based on SERVQUAL Model Khandan Maryam Nouhi Esmat Sabzevari Sakine 1 4 2015 15 251 262 07 04 2015 30 06 2015 Introduction: One of the most important factors in the success and survival of the higher education system is attention to the quality of provided services. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the quality of educational services in the Razi faculty of nursing and midwifery of Kerman based on SERVQUAL model in 2014. Methods: In this descriptive-analytical study, 150 students of the faculty of nursing and midwifery were selected by simple random sampling method. The data collection tool was SERVQUAL standard questionnaire which included three parts of demographic information and 28 pairs of items measuring current and desired status of service quality. The mean difference between the current and desired status was calculated as service gap. The collected data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics (paired t-test, independent t-test, Kruskal-Wallis, and ANOVA). Results: The results showed that a negative gap existed in all dimensions of the service quality with the maximum gap being in the physical and accountability dimensions (-1.7) and the minimum gap in the reliability dimension (-0.6). There was no statistically significant difference between the gap in quality of educational services in the five dimensions and gender and educational level this difference was only significant between the gap in quality of educational services in the five dimensions and field of study (p< 0.05). Conclusion: Given the negative gaps in the five dimensions of service quality and greater gaps in physical and accountability dimensions, it is recommended that resources be allocated by appropriate planning and prioritization and also training courses be offered for staff and faculty members about effective methods of presenting educational services and effective communication with students. 3220 Educational Management The Relationship between Justice Perception of Performance Appraisal System and Organizational Citizenship Behavior and Organizational Commitment among Nurses Abbasnezhad Mohammad Hossien mahdad Ali Asadpour Mohammad 1 4 2015 15 240 250 10 05 2014 30 06 2015 Introduction: Employee justice perception of performance appraisal system is an important prerequisite to its success and effectiveness. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between justice perception (configural, systemic, informational, and interpersonal) of performance appraisal system with organizational commitment and organizational citizenship behavior. Methods: This research was a descriptive-correlational study. The population consisted of all male and female nurses (600) in hospitals of Rafsanjan City in 2013. Research sample included 253 nurses who were selected through simple random sampling and based on Jolly and Mitchell’s sample size table. Data collection tools were Thurston’s justice perception of performance appraisal system, Allen & Meyer’s organizational commitment questionnaire, and Lee and Allen’s organizational citizenship behavior questionnaire. Data were analyzed using Pearson correlation and regression analysis. Results: There was a positive significant relationship between components of justice perception of performance appraisal system and dimensions of organizational commitment (p≤0.01). There was also a positive significant relationship between configural, systemic and informational justice perception of performance appraisal system and organization-oriented organizational citizenship behavior (p≤0.01). Among the components of justice perception of performance appraisal system, informational justice perception was only able to predict affective commitment configural justice perception was able to predict continuous commitment and informational and configural justice perception was able to predict normative commitment. Conclusion: Since justice perception of performance appraisal system is of great importance among nurses and can affect their attitudes (including organizational commitment) and behaviors (including citizenship behavior), it is recommended to prioritize justice in performance appraisal system for nursing staff. 3636 Educational Management Appropriate Strategies to Empower Faculty Members of Medicine in Education: Viewpoints of Faculty Members of Mashhad School of Medicine Karimi Moonaghi Hossein Majidi Firozeh Makarem Abbas Emadzadeh Ali Shoeibi Ali 1 4 2015 15 227 239 23 02 2015 12 07 2015 Introduction: Understanding the process of empowerment and promoting universities’ capabilities to create an empowered atmosphere are factors affecting functions of education which require identification of the strategies and effective factors in faculty members’ empowerment. The present study was conducted to identify and determine the most appropriate strategies of educational empowerment for faculty members of medicine from the viewpoints of faculty members of Mashhad School of Medicine. Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in 2012 in Mashhad School of Medicine. Initially, a list of appropriate strategies to empower faculty members was extracted from reviewing documents, literature, and experts’ opinions then, a researcher-made questionnaire was developed based on the list, and after verifying the content validity and reliability by means of test-retest (correlation coefficient at 0.87), was distributed among 96 faculty members (20 faculty members of basic sciences, 76 clinical faculty members) who were selected through stratified random sampling. Each strategy was evaluated as appropriate (3), rather appropriate (2) or inappropriate (1). Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics (Mann-Whitney and Kruskal-Wallis). Results: The strategies of workshops, observation of the best performance, short-term training courses and fellowship were the most appropriate strategies with means of 2.33, 2.42, 2.51, and 2.59, respectively while monitoring professors’ performance was identified as an inappropriate strategy. Results showed that the strategies of workshops, short-term training courses and fellowship were correlated with the age of faculty members (p<0.05). No significant correlation was found between the strategy of observation of the best performance and faculty members’ age and also between the most appropriate educational empowerment strategies and other individual characteristics of faculty members (gender, type of faculty member, academic ranking, academic degree, type of employment and working experience) (p>0.05). Conclusion: The findings of this study could be helpful for managers, instructors and planners of empowerment courses for faculty members. 3279 Teaching Methods The Role of Self-Directed Learning Readiness and Critical Thinking Disposition in Students’ Interaction in Blended Learning Environment Ajam Ali akbar 1 4 2015 15 215 226 11 06 2014 12 07 2015 Introduction: Since electronic interaction of students in teaching-learning process in blended learning as well as identification of factors influencing it are essential, this study aimed to investigate the role of self-directed learning readiness and critical thinking disposition in Nursing and Midwifery students’ interaction in blended learning environment. Methods: This descriptive study was performed on all undergraduate students studying at Nursing and Midwifery school of Mashhad University of Medical Sciences (764 students) in 2013-2014 academic years. The sample included 260 subjects who were selected through stratified sampling method using Krejcie and Morgan’s table. The data were collected through Fisher’s Self-Directed Learning Readiness Scale, Ricketts' critical thinking disposition questionnaire, and a questionnaire regarding students’ attitudes toward interactions in blended learning environment. The collected data were analyzed using MANOVA and hierarchical multiple regression. Results: Most students strongly agreed with interaction in blended learning environment (92 percent). A significant difference was found among different aspects of males and females’ self-directed learning readiness (f=15.57 and p<0.01). Self-control, self-management, willingness to learn from self-directed learning levels, and innovation out of critical thinking disposition components were variables that predicted students’ attitudes toward the interaction in blended learning environment (f=24.5 and p<0.01). Conclusion: This study showed that students had a positive attitude toward the interaction in blended learning environment. Therefore, it is recommended to focus on and use the blended learning approach in the current educational system. 3488 Clinical Skills Evaluation Interns’ Change Readiness in Terms of Self-assessment of Clinical Competency in Mashhad University of Medical Sciences Emadzadeh Ali Alizadeh Somayeh Karimi mooneghi Hossein Jarahi Lida 1 4 2015 15 205 214 06 11 2014 16 06 2015 Introduction: The ability to perform a self-assessment as a critical competency of professionalism is considered essential for medical students at the Medical Education Accreditation Council. In this study, interns’ status of readiness to change was investigated in terms of self-assessment of clinical competency in Mashhad University of Medical Sciences using construct of the stages of change of trans-theoretical model. Methods: In this descriptive study 127 interns were selected through Morgan table based on convenient sampling in Mashhad University of Medical Sciences in 2013-2014 academic years. The data was collected through a researcher-made questionnaire consisted of three sections: demographic information, background information and questions about the construct of the stages of change. After verifying the validity and reliability, questionnaires were completed through self-administration method. One-way ANOVA, T-test, Kruskal-Wallis and Spearman correlation coefficient were used to analyze the data. Results: More than half of the students (70.48%) were at the early stages of pre-contemplation and contemplation in the Trans-theoretical Model. A Bout (4/9%) of them had passed the pre-contemplation and contemplation and assessed their own clinical competency. Also 15.57% of the students were at the stage that self-assessment of clinical competency was part of their behavior. Conclusion: Results show that most medical students do not assess their clinical performance despite the fact that self-assessment and identification of educational needs are necessary for lifelong learning. It is recommended that self-assessment be used along with other assessment methods. 3683 other Classroom management Techniques: Tips for managing classroom Rezaei Habibolah Haghani Fariba 1 4 2015 15 192 204 14 04 2015 24 06 2015 Introduction: Classroom management includes teacher’s actions to discipline, motivate and engage learners in learning process. If the instructor could not manage the class using classroom management techniques, his or her teaching process would not go well. The aim of this study was to review classroom management techniques. Methods: The databases of SID, Iranmedex, Irondoc, Magiran, Pubmed, Eric and Google Scholar were searched through from 1986 to 2014 using key words such as classroom management, discipline, motivation and classroom rules. Results: Classroom management techniques were classified in four categories: content management and presentation (teaching techniques, making learners focus, mastery of the subject, and conveying concepts), rule management (determining rules with the help of learners, time of determining rules, rule implementation, and violation consequences), equity and motivation management (equal treatment of individual learners, fair evaluation, and the role of equity in success and motivation), and relation management (identifying interests and talents of learners and effective and mutual instructor-learner communication). Conclusion: According to the reviewed results, one of the most important classroom management techniques is to determine and implement classroom rules with the help of learners. It is recommended that teachers develop classroom rules in the first session about using phone, class attendance, active participation, and tardiness with the help of learners. 3792 Program Evaluation letter to editor Nematbakhsh Mehdi Isfahan University of Medical Sciences 1 4 2015 15 189 191 13 07 2015 31 08 2015 3231 Community Based Medicine Educational Needs of Executive Managers in Subsidiaries of Isfahan University of Medical Sciences regarding Administrative Rules and Regulation Yousefy Alireza Vali Saeid 1 4 2015 15 181 188 19 05 2014 31 08 2015 Introduction: Rule-based and discipline-oriented action is essential for dynamism and coordination of organizations. To achieve this, managers need to be familiar with organizational rules and regulations. This study aimed to assess the educational needs regarding administrative rules and regulations among faculty deans and healthcare network managers of Isfahan University of Medical Sciences and to provide an educational package accordingly. Methods: This cross-sectional, descriptive study was performed in 2012. The study population consisted of faculty deans and healthcare network managers of Isfahan University of Medical Sciences (dean of university, heads and deputies of faculties, hospitals, and health networks) who were selected by census method. Data collection tool was a valid and reliable researcher-made questionnaire. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, independent t-test and ANOVA. Results: The mean and standard deviation score of the whole questionnaire was 4.01 out of 5. The lowest mean score (3.44) was related to “knowledge of an article in the Act of Administrative Justice related to failure to offer documents to President of the Court of Administrative Justice or the branches of the Court” and the highest mean score (4.01) was related to “knowledge of administrative violations recognized in the article 8 of Administrative Violations Code of State Staff”. Findings showed that educational needs of faculty deans and healthcare network managers were highly critical in terms of the rules and regulations. No significant difference was found in terms of gender and education. The final outcome of the present research was separate educational packages for each area of expertise. Conclusion: Given the necessity of coordinated and rule-governed organizational initiations, embedding relevant rules and regulations in educational programs seems essential. 3589 Clinical Skills Evaluation Midwifery Students’ Satisfaction with Logbook as a Clinical Evaluation Tool in Shiraz University of Medical Sciences Asadi lari Marzieh Moshfeghy Zeinab Shahpari Marzieh Mohammad alian Ferdos 1 4 2015 15 170 180 19 01 2015 20 05 2015 Introduction: Logbook is one of the common methods for evaluation of clinical skills of medical students. This method has been used in recent years in Shiraz University of Medical Sciences for clinical evaluation of midwifery students. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the level of students’ satisfaction with this method. Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study was performed in 2014 in Shiraz University of Medical Sciences and 52 students of midwifery who attended "Medical-Surgical" (MS) and "Gynecology" (Gyn) practicums were selected by convenience sampling. Data were collected using a valid and reliable researcher-made questionnaire. It consisted of 23 items and measured nine domains with a five-point Likert scale. Data were analyzed by means of descriptive statistics, ANOVA and post hoc tests. Results: The mean of midwifery students’ satisfaction with the logbook was 48.51±15.02 in MS practicum and 48.81±16.94 in Gyn practicum. In the MS practicum, the highest satisfaction score was related to the domain of “being stressful” (59.61±26.11) and the lowest score was related to “being fair” (44.61±20.81). In the Gyn practicum, the highest satisfaction score was related to the domain of “conformity to educational goals” (57.30±19.71) and the lowest score was related to “interest in the logbook method” (43.46±20.72). In both practicums, the satisfaction level of last semester students was higher than that of other students. Conclusion: Use of Logbook in the clinical evaluation of MS and Gyn practicums for midwifery students of Shiraz University of Medical Science, was accompanied by relative dissatisfaction. Therefore, revision and modification of the various aspects of the Logbook seem to be necessity in order to make students more satisfied. 3624 Curriculum Development Role of Procrastination and Motivational Self-Regulation in Predicting Students’ Academic Engagement Abbasi Moslem Dargahi Shahriar Pirani Zabih Bonyadi Farzaneh 1 4 2015 15 160 169 16 02 2015 08 08 2015 Introduction: Students’ cognitive, behavioral and emotional engagement with the academic environment and field of study will guarantee their vitality and success in promoting educational goals. Therefore, the purpose of this research was to investigate the role of procrastination and motivational self-regulation in predicting students’ academic engagement. Methods: This correlational study was performed on 311 students of faculty of medical sciences in Islamic Azad University of Arak in 2014-2015 academic years. The subjects were selected through Random and responded to procrastination, motivational self-regulation, and academic involvement questionnaires. Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics (Pearson correlation coefficient and regression analysis). Results: Pearson correlation showed that there was a negative and significant relationship between procrastination and academic engagement (p<0.01). It also indicated a positive and significant relationship between motivational self-regulation and academic engagement (P<0.001). The results of the regression analysis showed that procrastination and motivational self-regulation could predict 22.3 percent of academic engagement variance. Conclusion: Procrastination and motivational self-regulation can predict academic engagement of students. Since these two variables are correlated with Students’ enthusiasm to continue their studies, they must be taken into account and underscored for students’ academic achievement. 3425 Teaching Methods Heydari Heshmatolah raoufi Shahin Kamran Aziz 1 4 2015 15 146 159 13 09 2014 06 06 2015 3247 academic research management Explanation of Entrepreneurial Capacity and Culture in Babol University of Medical Science through Fuzzy Analysis Method samadi hossein Hamzeh Samadi Miarkolaei Aghajani Hasanali 1 4 2015 15 134 145 27 05 2014 18 05 2015 Introduction: Science systems are changing worldwide in response to increasing social and economic needs for knowledge and technology. Entrepreneurial university theory is a model for explaining the new transformed face of universities. The main purpose of present study was to explain the entrepreneurial capacity and culture in Babol University of Medical Sciences through Fuzzy Analysis Method. Methods: This was a descriptive study. The statistical population consisted of faculty members, university entrepreneurship specialists and administrators of Babol University of Medical Sciences in 2013. Gibb`s Entrepreneurial University questionnaire, after verifying its validity and reliability was used to collect data. The data were analyzed using fuzzy analysis method. Results: The findings showed that the status of entrepreneurial culture and capacity in Babol University of Medical Sciences was inappropriate. This included vision, mission and strategy of university, governance and administration, structure and organizational design, multidisciplinary and transdisciplinary, leverage and employing various resources public values and stakeholders management alumni knowledge transfer Incubation center, venture funding in university spin-off companies, internationalization, and entrepreneurial education. Conclusion: On the path toward becoming an entrepreneurial university, especially for universities of medical sciences, it is necessary that universities go through substantial changes in terms of structural, managerial, and cultural dimensions, and pave the way to serve new functions by developing necessary infrastructures. 3510 other Letter to editor Arabzoozani Morteza 1 4 2015 15 129 133 21 11 2014 06 07 2015 3601 Educational Management System based education in medical sciences: necessary but forgotten. Karimi Moonaghi Hossein Pourghaznein Tayebe 1 4 2015 15 126 128 29 01 2015 12 05 2015 3675 academic research management Guide to the use of statistical methods in clinical studies Khazaei Salman Mohammadian- Hafshejani Abdollah Salehiniya Hamid 1 4 2015 15 124 125 07 04 2015 04 07 2015 3704 academic research management Some notes for increase reporting of interventional studies Khazaeii Salman Mohammadian- Hafshejani Abdollah Salehiniya Hamid 1 4 2015 15 122 123 06 05 2015 04 07 2015 3644 Teacher Evaluation Factors affecting teacher evaluation scores: the students` viewpoints of Kurdistan University of Medical Sciences Vahabi Ahmad Rahmani Somayyeh Rostami Shiva Vahabi Boshra Hosseini Mobin Roshani Daem 1 4 2015 15 111 121 02 03 2015 30 04 2015 Introduction: One of the main tasks of universities of medical sciences is teacher evaluation. During the evaluation process, the required data are collected and analyzed. Then the teachers are informed about the results in order to improve their teaching methods. This study was performed to determine the factors affecting teacher evaluation scores from the viewpoint of the students in Kurdistan University of Medical Sciences. Methods: This cross-sectional study was performed on all the students of Kurdistan University of Medical Sciences who had passed at least one semester and were familiar with the process of teacher evaluation. A number of 384 of students were selected randomly. The data collection tools were a demographic questionnaire and a questionnaire containing items on the factors influencing teacher evaluation scores. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics as well as Mann-Whitney U and Kruskal-Wallis tests. Results: The most important factors affecting the scores of teachers’ evaluation from the viewpoint of the students were: teachers' knowledge on the subject matter (4.53±0.8 out of 5), teachers' ability to convey the lessons (4.52±0.78), compatibility of class content material and final exam questions (4.40±0.79) and the least important of these factors were gender (3.48±1.01), teachers' age (3.28±1.14) and conducting tests to measure academic achievement of faculty members (3.1±1.42). Conclusion: According to the findings, empowering the faculty members regarding their teaching abilities and their communication skills seem to be necessary. 3537 Clinical Skills Evaluation Clinical Evaluation Tool for Operating Room Students: Development and Measurement of Reliability and Validity mohammadi somayeh tolyat maryam Roshanzadeh mostafa 1 4 2015 15 98 110 11 12 2014 20 05 2015 Introduction: In order to ensure the achievement of goals in clinical training, having the right tool with good reliability and validity is essential. Given the fact that no proper tool has ever been developed for evaluation of operating room students, this study aimed to develop and measure the validity and reliability of the evaluation tool for these students. Methods: This descriptive study was conducted in 2014 in Birjand University of Medical Sciences. After defining the concepts and behaviors to be measured using interviews and review of relevant literatures, the primary tool was developed and its face validity and content validity were verified both qualitatively and quantitatively (using experts’ opinions, CVR, and CVI). The reliability was calculated through interclass reliability and Cronbach’s alpha. Results: The final tool consisted of 62 items in 7 different subscales (professional characteristics, communication, examining the patient, training patients and families, submitting reports, clients’ safety, and clinical competence). The content validity index of the whole questionnaire was 0.84 and content validity ratio for each item was reported 0.62 and higher. With a sample size of 28 students, Cronbach's alpha of the whole questionnaire was 0.82. Also, interclass reliability was 0.45. Conclusion: The results indicated that the developed tool has adequate reliability and validity and that it can be used as a tool for clinical evaluation of operating room students. 3493 Teaching Methods A Comparison of Nursing Students’ Satisfaction in Compact Disc-based Education vs. Traditional Education Khoobi Mitra Ahmadi hedayat Majid Mohamadi Nooredin Parvizi Soroor Haghani Hamid Izadibidani Fatemeh 1 4 2015 15 89 97 08 11 2014 22 04 2015 Introduction: Given the variety of educational methods and the conditions and facilities, selecting appropriate methods is one of the instructors’ practices to achieve educational goals. The aim of this study was to compare Nursing Students’ Satisfaction with CD-based and traditional education at Tehran University of Medical Sciences. Methods: This research was a quasi-experimental study. The study population consisted of all nursing students who had to pass community health course (3) in 2012-2013 academic years (n=38). The participants were divided equally into two groups of CD-based education and traditional education through randomized block allocation method. Data collection tool was a researcher-made questionnaire which measured students’ satisfaction with the methods and was completed at the end of the course. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics (mean, standard deviation), Analysis of Covariance (ANCOVA), Chi-square test and independent t-test. Results: The means and standard deviations of satisfaction were 74.37±16.31 and 58.74±15.17 (out of 100) for the experimental and control groups respectively. The comparison of satisfaction mean scores showed a significant difference between groups (P=0.006). Conclusion: According to the findings, students seem to be more satisfied with CD-based education than traditional education. Instructors and policymakers then may employ CD-based education in teaching theoretical courses of nursing or use it in combination with other methods. 2411 Program Evaluation Evaluation of Basic Sciences Curriculum Modifications in Isfahan University of Medical Sciences: The Students’ Viewpoint Teimouri Jervekani Zahra Ashoorion Vahid Mozafarpour Sarah Sirous Salimeh 1 4 2015 15 79 88 14 11 2012 15 08 2013 Introduction: Basic sciences curriculum faces various challenges in Iran. Proper curriculum designing can have a major impact on learning, performance, educational achievement and satisfaction of students of medicine. This study was carried out in order to evaluate the effectiveness of the rearrangement of basic sciences curriculum in Isfahan University of Medical Sciences from the viewpoint of the students. Methods: In this descriptive study with interrupted time series design, students of medicine at Isfahan University of Medical Sciences admitted at 2005-2006 academic years were selected through convenient sampling. The case group were students in the new curriculum design, and the control group were the students in the traditional curriculum design. Data collection tool was a valid and reliable researcher-made questionnaire. The collected data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and an independent t-test. Results: Students’ satisfaction rate with the new curriculum (2.95± 0.48 out of 5) was significantly (P = 0.00, t = -3.25) more than students’ satisfaction in the traditional curriculum (2.78±.68). Students receiving the new curriculum during 5 semesters ranked (6.34±1.81) the arrangement of the specialized courses higher (P=0.001, t=7.42) than the students in the traditional curriculum (4.29±2.15). The scores for the given preparation time for basic sciences examination in the 5th semester was not significantly different between the two groups (2.86±1.10 vs. 2.77±1.34, p=0.72, t=0.35). The students’ stress for this exam was not significantly different between groups (3. 49±1.15 vs. 3. 48±1.22, P=0.99, t=0.01). Conclusion: The findings showed that even minor modifications could affect the attitudes of the students of medicine. However, merely rearranging the courses may not be sufficient. Thereby, continuous modification of the curriculum according to new approaches such as integrated courses through organ-based model, considering other contributing factors in improving students' satisfaction, such as modifying the content, method and learning environment are strongly recommended. 3531 Educational Management The relationship between academic self-efficacy with perceived stress, coping strategies and perceived social support among students of University of Guilan Saadat Sajjad Asghari Farhad Jazayeri Rezvanoosadat 1 4 2015 15 67 78 06 12 2014 07 05 2015 Introduction: Academic self-efficacy refers to learners’ belief in their abilities in academic process, whose realization is affected by many factors. The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between academic self-efficacy and perceived stress, coping strategies and perceived social support among the students of University of Guilan. Methods: This descriptive-correlational study was performed on all students of faculty of humanities in University of Guilan in 2014-15 academic years. The sample consisted of 335 students who were selected through cluster sampling. Data collection tools were Owen & Froman’s Academic Self-efficacy Questionnaire, Cohen Perceived Stress Scale, Endler & Parker’s Coping Inventory for Stressful Situations and Vaux et al Perceived Social Support Questionnaire. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics tests, Pearson Correlation coefficient, and Multiple Linear Regression. Results: The Pearson Correlation showed a significant positive correlation (P<0.01) between academic self-efficacy and perceived social support (r=0.518) and problem-oriented coping strategies (r=0.421). It also showed a significant negative correlation (P<0.01) between academic self-efficacy and perceived stress (r=-0.574), emotion-oriented coping (r=-0.364) and avoidance-oriented coping (r=-0.364). Stepwise regression analysis indicated that the predictor variables such as perceived stress, perceived social support and problem-oriented coping were able to significantly explain 0.39 of academic self-efficacy variance among the students. Conclusion: The findings support the importance of perceived stress, perceived social support and problem-oriented coping in predicting academic self-efficacy of students. Therefore, training courses seem to be useful in developing self-efficacy beliefs and stress management.