Medical Students' Viewpoints toward Basic Sciences and Preinternship Comprehensive Exams in Arak University of Medical Sciences

Introduction: Different viewpoints have been presented concerning the impressions left by preinternship and basic sciences exams on students' education and quality of life. This study was performed in order to investigate medical students' viewpoints toward evaluation aptitude as well as advantages and disadvantages of these exams. Methods: Ninety one students based on census method were studied in this descriptive cross-sectional study Data gathering instrument was a researcher-made questionnaire. Following designing a tree diagram, scoring, and developing a question bank, the pilot study was performed. Then, based on the face and content validity, final questions were selected. Data was analyzed by SPSS software. Results: Nineteen physiopathology students, 44 clerks, and 28 interns participated in this study. Students considered preinternship examination as necessary for evaluation of students' knowledge, but the same was not true about basic sciences examination. Both groups believed that examinations were not capable of assessing the students' endeavors during several years as well as their skills and attitude. Also, memorizing information for passing these exams would not prove helpful in dealing with patients. These exams exerting too much stress on students affect their life while the achieved results are provisional having no applicability. Conclusion: Most students do not believe in comprehensive exams as an appropriate method for assessing practical competencies while failing these examinations leads to a 6 month delay in their education. It is suggested to assess students using OSCE method in short intervals rather than these two comprehensive exams. It is also recommended to put more emphasis on final examinations of each ward.