qualitative study of psychiatrists' view about a pilot objective structured clinical examination [OSCE] in Iran

In Aug 2004, for the first time, a psychiatric OSCE was piloted in Iran. The objective of current study was to explore the view and opinion of both candidates and examiners after they took part in the exam. Two focus groups were formed. There were 10 participants in each group. Each group was asked to discuss the advantages and disadvantages of the OSCE. The discussion was tape recorded and then converted into a script before being analyzed. Standard format of the exam and its unbiased evaluation of candidates' abilities were reported as the most significant advantages of OSCE. However, participants criticized the artificiality of the setting and use of simulated patients. Although expensive and time consuming to organize, OSCE was viewed as a standard and fair method of assessing candidates' skills. To overcome the artificiality of the setting, participants asked for a better training of the actors and actresses

Prevalence of cigarette smoking in Tehran: a household study

Cigarette smoking is a highly addictive behavior and nicotine dependence is a well known model for drug dependence. It also acts as a gateway drug for the use of other illicit substances. In 1999, Iran Ministry of health and the national research center carried out a study which revealed that 11.9% of Iranian population use cigarette. The present study is a cross-sectional household survey which was carried out in 2004.The target population of this study consisted of residents [age>15] of the sixth district of the municipality of Tehran. The sample was selected through multistage stratification and systematic randomization [n= 2705]. Data was gathered using face-to-face interviews. Our study showed that 540 [19.9%] subjects reported regular use of cigarette sometimes in their life. Three hundred and eighty one [14.1%] reported that they were current smokers. The Prevalence of smoking and the mean number of cigarette smoked daily were lower in women compared to men. About seventy four percent of the smokers reported that they smoked their first cigarette before the age of 25. Only 7.8% reported that they started smoking after the age of 35. The self-reported lifelong prevalence and the prevalence of current smoking are much lower in Iran compared to many other Middle East countries. Moreover, according to the findings of this study, the number of attempts to quit smoking in Iran is lower than the reported rate in other countries of the region