The evaluation of occupational medicine education in medical schools of Iran, 1998

Objective: In recent years, the education plan based on essential community needs is one of the important views in training of specialists, and medical education is not an exception. As work force and work hours excessively increase in our country like many others, health and medical needs of the workers about which medical students must know are essential for the community. Methods: A descriptive survey designed for assessment of hows and whys of occupational health education in medical schools all over Iran in 1377. We sent a questionnaire to all medical schools, and received 30 completed questionnaires. Findings: According to the findings, 28 out of 30 medical schools have occupational health education programs for medical students. Mean of occupational health education period has been 4.2±3 hours. 12 medical schools had occupational health education programs in theoretical form or workshop. 16 schools had a program of factory visit for their students, 15 medical schools had no training aids. Conclusion: According to the results of the study, it seems that there should be a general revision in quality and quantity of occupational health education curriculum in medical schools. It should be indicated that 18 schools have recommended to prolong the period of education and believed that we should have a separate curriculum with special interest in practical aspects