Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 7, 2026
10:07
Using Learning Outcome Measures to assess Doctoral Nursing Education
Published on: June 21, 2010
Assessing critical thinking in medical sciences students in two sequential semesters: Does it improve?
Zeinab-Sadat Athari1, Sayyed-Mostafa Sharif, Ahmad Reza Nasr
1Department of Educational Sciences, University of Isfahan, Isfahan, Iran.
Journal of Education and Health Promotion
|October 2, 2013
Summary
Medical students showed a significant decrease in critical thinking skills after one semester. Curriculum reform is needed to enhance problem-solving abilities in higher education for healthcare professionals.
Area of Science:
- Medical Education
- Higher Education Assessment
Background:
- Critical thinking is vital for medical and paramedical students facing clinical challenges.
- Developing problem-solving skills is a key outcome of higher education.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate changes in critical thinking skills among medical sciences students.
- Assessed skill development over academic years 2008-2010 at Isfahan University of Medical Sciences.
Main Methods:
- Longitudinal study comparing critical thinking skills using the California Critical Thinking Skills Test.
- Two groups of students (n=159, n=138) completed different parts of the test sequentially over one semester.
Main Results:
- No significant demographic differences between the groups.
- Students in phase II demonstrated significantly lower critical thinking scores than in phase I (p<0.05).
- Sub-scores for analysis, inference, inductive, and deductive reasoning did not improve.
Conclusions:
- Current curriculum may not adequately foster critical thinking development.
- Curriculum reform is recommended to enhance critical thinking in medical sciences students.
Related Concept Videos
01:25Critical Thinking II
Critical thinking is a cognitive process with several attributes. The attributes of critical thinking include the following:
01:24Critical Thinking I
Critical thinking helps decision-making and allows nurses to recognize barriers to success and find solutions to possible issues. It helps to brainstorm and implement ideas to achieve goals. Critical thinking helps acknowledge and state workflow inefficiencies while improving management techniques. Nurses understand the value of critical thinking and look for fellow nurses with critical thinking skills to upgrade their professional standards. Critical thinking can advance a nurse's career with...
01:19Critical Thinking
Critical thinking involves reflective and productive thinking and the evaluation of evidence. Critical thinkers seek to understand the deeper meaning of ideas, question assumptions, and make independent decisions about what to believe or do. Scientists, for instance, are often critical thinkers. Critical thinking also requires humility about what we know and don't know and the motivation to look beyond the obvious. It is essential for effective problem-solving.
Colleges and universities are...
Colleges and universities are...
01:13Patient-centered Care
Patient-centered care involves delivering care beyond inpatient hospitalization. Reflective practice can enhance a patient-centered approach. Reflective practice is a process of reasoning that considers all aspects of the present situation, including practicalities, learning from personal practice, and consideration of patient needs. Patients appreciate care decisions made while considering their input. Involving the patient in their care provides the patient with a sense of contribution rather...
01:26Metacognition
Metacognition is a conscious process where individuals are aware of their cognitive and executive processes, such as planning before solving a problem or self-monitoring during reading. For instance, a writer may need help with composing a piece. The situation involves a writer who is working on a piece of writing, but while doing so, they realize that something is missing. They notice that their characters lack depth or details. This realization occurs because the writer is reflecting on their...
01:15Nursing Evaluation
The evaluation stage signals the end of the nursing process. The nurse gathers evaluative data to assess whether or not the patient has attained the expected results. Whereas the nurse collects data in the nursing assessment to identify the patient's health concerns, the evaluation stage data determines if the indicated health issues are resolved. Evaluative data collection includes two sections: the data acquired to evaluate patient outcomes and the time criteria for data collection.
Section...
Section...