Medical Sciences Students’ Critical Thinking Skills and the Effect of the University Curriculum: A Literature Review

Document Type : Review Article

Authors

1 Students` Research Office. MSc Student in Occupational Therapy, School of Rehabilitation Sciences, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

2 Assistant Professor in Occupational Therapy, School of Rehabilitation Sciences, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

Abstract

Background and Aim: Critical thinking is a basic cognitive process which improves students’ problem solving ability and is one of the main outputs of academic centers. It has an important role in medical sciences as the students studying these branches of science are getting ready to attend clinical work. Critical thinking helps to convey psychomotor skills from class to clinic. In the present study, we aimed at reviewing medical sciences students’ critical thinking skills and the effect of the universities' curriculums on them.
Materials and Methods: Databases of PubMed, ScienceDirect, Magiran, SID, Iranmedex, and Iranian medical education magazines were searched from 2000 to 2014. The terms Critical Thinking, Students, curriculum, Medical Sciences, and the combinations were used to search these databases.
Results: From among almost 35 relevant studies, 16 studies were selected. Based on their topics, the studies (except for the systematic review and Delphi study, which are discussed separately) were divided into three groups: 1) The studies that examined disposition to critical thinking, 2) The studies that examined critical thinking skills, and 3) The studies which examined both disposition and skills.
Conclusion: Facilitating students’ critical thinking must be a priority in education and new teaching methods should be used by instructors in the class. Also, we need more extensive studies to explore the barriers of improving critical thinking in students of medical sciences.

Keywords

References

  1. Gul RB, Boman JA. Concept Mapping: A Strategy For Teaching And Evaluation In Nursing Education. Nurse Education In Practice. 2006;6(4):199-206.##
  2. Fesler-Birch DM. Critical Thinking And Patient Outcomes: A Review. Nursing Outlook. 2005;53(2):59-65.##
  3. Kermansaravi F, Navidian A, Kaykhaei A. Critical Thinking Dispositions Among Junior, Senior And Graduate Nursing Students In Iran. Procedia-Social And Behavioral Sciences. 2013;83:574-9.##
  4. Akhoundzadeh K, Ahmari Tehran H, Salehi S, Abedini Z. Critical Thinking In Nursing Education In Iran. Iranian Journal Of Medical Education. 2011;11(3):210-21.##
  5. Dezhgaahee S. Critical Thinking Challenging Independence As An Educational Objective. 2. 2008;4(1):63-80. ##
  6. Paul SA. Assessment Of Critical Thinking: A Delphi Study. Nurse Education Today. 2014.##
  7. Athari Zs, Sharif Sm, Nasr Ar, Nematbakhsh M. Paper: Evaluation Of Students'critical Thinking Skills In Isfahan University And Isfahan University Of Medical Sciences For Two Sequence Semesters: Critical Thinking, The Lost Ring In Curriculums.##
  8. Khodamoradi K, Seyed Zakerin M, Shahabi M, Yaghmaie F, Alavi Majd H. Comparing Critical Thinking Skills Of First- And Last-Term Baccalaureate Students Of Nursing, Midwifery And Occupational Therapy Of Medical Universities Of Tehran City. 2. 2011;21(2):134-40. ##
  9. Lederer JM. Disposition Toward Critical Thinking Among Occupational Therapy Students. American Journal Of Occupational Therapy. 2007;61(5):519-26.##
  10. Mirmolaei T, Shabani H, Babaei G, Abdehagh Z. Comparison Of Critical Thinking Among First And Last Trimester Baccalaureate Midwifery Students. Hayat. 2004;10(3):69-77.##
  11. Chan Z. A Systematic Review Of Critical Thinking In Nursing Education. Nurse Education Today. 2013;33(3):236-40.##
  12. Maghsoudi J, Etemadifar S, Haghani F. Improving Critical Thinking Of Students: A Great Challenge In Clinical Nursing Education. Iranian Journal Of Medical Education. 2011;10(5):1110-20.##
  13. Monaghi Hk, Jafari H. Is Undergraduate Midwifery Curriculum Promoting Critical Thinking Skills In Students? Zanan, Mamayi Va Na Zaeeye Iran. 2013;16(76):1-10.##
  14. Monaghi HK, Rad M, Bakhshi M. Do The New Methods Of Teaching In Medical Education Have Adequate Efficacy?: A Systematic Review. Journal Of Strides Development Medical Education. 2013;10(2):271-80.##
  15. Masoumy M, Ebadi A, Raisifar A, Javanbakhtian R. Comparison Of Two Teaching Methods On Nursing Students’ Learning And Retention: Concept Mapping Or Lecture? Iranian Journal Of Medical Education. 2012;12(7):498-507.##
  16. Barkhordary M. Comparing Critical Thinking Disposition In Baccalaureate Nursing Students At Different Grades And Its Relationship With State Anxiety. Iranian Journal Of Medical Education. 2012;11(7):768-88. ##
  17. Kawashima A, Petrini MA. Study Of Critical Thinking Skills In Nursing Students And Nurses In Japan. Nurse Education Today. 2004;24(4):286-92.##
  18. Sabouri Kashani A, Faal Ostadzar N, Karimi Moonaghi H, Gharib M. Critical Thinking Dispositions Among Medical Students In Two Stages: Basic Medical Sciences And Pre-Internship. Iranian Journal Of Medical Education. 2013;12(10):778-85. ##
  19. Gharib M, Rabieian M, Salsali M, Hadjizadeh E, Sabouri Kashani A, Khalkhali H. Critical Thinking Skills And Critical Thinking Dispositions In Freshmen And Senior Students Of Health Care Management. Iranian Journal Of Medical Education. 2009;9(2):125-35. ##
  20. Hoseini A, Bahrami M. Comparison Of Critical Thinking Between Freshman And Senior BS Students. Iranian Journal Of Medical Education. 2002;2(2):21-6.##
  21. Baba Mohammadi H, Khalili H. Critical Thinking Skills Of Nursing Students In Semnan University Of Medical Sciences. Iranian Journal Of Medical Education. 2004;4(2):23-31. ##
  22. R. Islami Akbar, R. Shekarabi, N. Behbahani, R. Jamshidi. CRITICAL THINKING ABILITY IN NURSING STUDENTS AND CLINICAL NURSES. Iran Journal Of Nursing. 2004;17(39):15-29.##
  23. Vogel KA, Geelhoed M, Grice KO, Murphy D. Do Occupational Therapy And Physical Therapy Curricula Teach Critical Thinking Skills? Journal Of Allied Health. 2009;38(3):152-7.##
  24. Mahmoodabad SSM, Nadrian H, Nahangi H. Critical Thinking Ability And Its Associated Factors Among Preclinical Students In Yazd Shaheed Sadoughi University Of Medical Sciences (Iran). Medical Journal Of The Islamic Republic Of Iran. 2012;26(2):50.##
The Scientific Journal of Rehabilitation Medicine
Volume 4, Issue 4 - Serial Number 4
November and December 2015
Pages 156-165

Files

History

  • Receive Date: 14 March 2015
  • Revise Date: 30 May 2015
  • Accept Date: 27 August 2015
  • First Publish Date: 22 December 2015

Share

How to cite

Statistics