Critical Thinking of Medical Students: does it Change during the Study in Medical School?

Background & Objective: Critical thinking (CT) is essential in medical education and improves physicians' clinical ability and competency. The present study aimed to determine the CT level and the trend of its changes in medical education at Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences,...

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Main Authors: Reza sharifinia, Abdolhussein Shakurnia
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Zanjan University of Medical Sciences and Health Services 2022-08-01
Series:Journal of Medical Education Development
Subjects:
Online Access:https://zums.ac.ir/edujournal/article-1-1583-en.pdf
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author Reza sharifinia
Abdolhussein Shakurnia
author_facet Reza sharifinia
Abdolhussein Shakurnia
author_sort Reza sharifinia
collection DOAJ
description Background & Objective: Critical thinking (CT) is essential in medical education and improves physicians' clinical ability and competency. The present study aimed to determine the CT level and the trend of its changes in medical education at Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran, in 2021. Materials & Methods: In this cross-sectional descriptive study, the CT levels of 165 medical students in three curricular phases, namely basic sciences, externship, and internship courses were examined. The data collection tool was the California Critical Thinking Skills Questionnaire Form B. Data were analyzed by SPSS (version 20) using t-test, ANOVA, and Pearson correlation coefficient. Results: The mean score of medical students’ CT was 12.07 ± 4.48 out of a total score of 34. The mean scores of students’ CT in basic sciences, externship, and internship courses were 12.75 ± 4.47, 12.82 ± 5.10, and 10.67 ± 3.49, respectively. There was a significant difference between students' mean scores of CT in different curricular phases (P=0.010). In addition, there was a significant difference between the mean scores of students' CT based on gender, and the mean scores of CT of male students were significantly higher (P=0.049). Conclusion: The mean scores of CT of medical students were low and did not improve during their university years. Since CT plays an essential role in clinical decision-making, it is necessary for medical teachers and university officials to pay more attention to the medical students' CT development.
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spelling doaj.art-04e6fe600dda4116a19ef993c2c2d3252023-08-02T07:01:12ZengZanjan University of Medical Sciences and Health ServicesJournal of Medical Education Development2251-95212022-08-01 15 45263310.52547/edcj.15.45.26Critical Thinking of Medical Students: does it Change during the Study in Medical School? Reza sharifinia0https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8590-4062Abdolhussein Shakurnia1https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3354-2917General physician, School of Medicine, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, IranDepartment of Immunology, School of Medicine, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran.Background & Objective: Critical thinking (CT) is essential in medical education and improves physicians' clinical ability and competency. The present study aimed to determine the CT level and the trend of its changes in medical education at Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran, in 2021. Materials & Methods: In this cross-sectional descriptive study, the CT levels of 165 medical students in three curricular phases, namely basic sciences, externship, and internship courses were examined. The data collection tool was the California Critical Thinking Skills Questionnaire Form B. Data were analyzed by SPSS (version 20) using t-test, ANOVA, and Pearson correlation coefficient. Results: The mean score of medical students’ CT was 12.07 ± 4.48 out of a total score of 34. The mean scores of students’ CT in basic sciences, externship, and internship courses were 12.75 ± 4.47, 12.82 ± 5.10, and 10.67 ± 3.49, respectively. There was a significant difference between students' mean scores of CT in different curricular phases (P=0.010). In addition, there was a significant difference between the mean scores of students' CT based on gender, and the mean scores of CT of male students were significantly higher (P=0.049). Conclusion: The mean scores of CT of medical students were low and did not improve during their university years. Since CT plays an essential role in clinical decision-making, it is necessary for medical teachers and university officials to pay more attention to the medical students' CT development.https://zums.ac.ir/edujournal/article-1-1583-en.pdfcritical thinking skillsmedical studentscalifornia criticalthinking skills questionnaireform b
spellingShingle Reza sharifinia
Abdolhussein Shakurnia
Critical Thinking of Medical Students: does it Change during the Study in Medical School?
Journal of Medical Education Development
critical thinking skills
medical students
california critical
thinking skills questionnaire
form b
title Critical Thinking of Medical Students: does it Change during the Study in Medical School?
title_full Critical Thinking of Medical Students: does it Change during the Study in Medical School?
title_fullStr Critical Thinking of Medical Students: does it Change during the Study in Medical School?
title_full_unstemmed Critical Thinking of Medical Students: does it Change during the Study in Medical School?
title_short Critical Thinking of Medical Students: does it Change during the Study in Medical School?
title_sort critical thinking of medical students does it change during the study in medical school
topic critical thinking skills
medical students
california critical
thinking skills questionnaire
form b
url https://zums.ac.ir/edujournal/article-1-1583-en.pdf
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