Investigation of outliers of evaluation scores among school of health instructors using outlier - determination indices

Introduction: Teacher evaluation, as an important strategy for improving the quality of education, has been considered by universities and leads to a better understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of education. Analysis of instructors' scores is one of the main fields of educational research. Since outliers affect analysis and interpretation of information processes both structurally and conceptually, understanding the methods of detecting outliers in collected data can be helpful for scholars, data analysts, and researchers. The present study aimed to present and compare the available techniques for detecting outliers

Methods: In this cross-sectional study, the statistical population included the evaluation forms of instructors completed by the students of Shiraz School of Health in the first and second semesters of the academic year 2012-2013. All the forms related to these years [N=1317] were entered into analysis through census. Then, four methods [Dixon, Gauss, Grubb, and Graphical methods] were used for determining outliers. Kappa coefficient was also used to determine the agreement among the methods. Results: In this study 1317 forms were completed by 203 undergraduate and 1114 postgraduate students. The mean scores given by undergraduates and postgraduates were 17,24 +/- 3,04 and 18.91 +/- 1.82, respectively. The results showed that Dixon and Grubb were the most appropriate methods to determine the outliers of evaluation scores in small samples, because they had appropriate agreement. On the other hand, NPP and QQ plot were the most appropriate methods in large samples

Conclusion: The results showed that each of the studied methods could help us, in some way, determine outliers. Researchers and analysts who intend to select and use the methods must first review the observations with the help of descriptive information and overview of the distribution. Determination of outliers is important in evaluation of instructors, because by determining the outliers and removing the data that might have been recorded incorrectly, more accurate and reliable results can be obtained

Epidemiological study of the patients referred for thalassemia diagnosis using chorionic villous sampling [CVS] in genetic laboratory of Dastgheib hospital, Shiraz, 2011

Pre-natal diagnosis is the most effected way to prevent genetic diseases in a society. The aim of this research was to show the prevention level of the birth of the children with major thalassemia disorder and the demographic condition of the people referring to the Shahid Dastgheib Genetic Center in Shiraz for the pre natal diagnosis. The present research was a cross- sectional [descriptive, analytical] one. In this study, the amount of sampling was done by census in a way that all the case [372 cases] related to the year 2010. The questionnaire was prepared based on the information present in the files. In order to compare the quantitative and qualitative variables, two sample t - test and K sample t- test were used. Out of 372 fetuses tested, 25.5% had major thalassemia, 48.7% minor thalassemia, 0.8% intermediate, 1.3% sickle cell, and 23.7% were healthy. All the cases diagnosed with thalassemia were introduced for abortion, and abortion was carried out. Major thalassemia was more prevalent in Lore tribes [32.9%], which was more in comparison to the members of others tribes. In order to prevent major thalassemia, it is important to identify the gene carriers and prevent their marriage. Nevertheless, in many places in the country, especially in the villages and rural areas, the couples do the experiment after they have already gotten emotionally involved and made the arrangements to get married; therefore they're unwilling to stop the marriage. As a result, post-nuptial CVS during pregnancy is crucial

Comparison of the prevalence and the causes of unwanted pregnancy in women under 35 versus over 35 years

The aim of this study is to compare the incidence of unwanted pregnancies in women under 35 and those over 35 years, compare the results with the previous data, and also to determine the causes of unwanted pregnancies in these women. This cross-sectional study [descriptive - analysis] is performed on 400 pregnant women who had referred to the laboratories of Shiraz. Ten laboratories were randomly selected from different parts of Shiraz. The subjects were interviewed during the period of three months they referred for the result of their pregnancy test. Questionnaire included demographic information, how to use the methods of contraception, how to treat women with unwanted pregnancies, and the history of pregnancy. The chi-square tests, t-test, and logistic regression were utilized in order to compare two groups of women under 35 and over 35 and also to determine the factors related to unwanted pregnancies. In this study, the prevalence of unwanted pregnancies in women under study was 14.7%. The incidence of pregnancy in women under 35 and those over 35 was 13.3% and 33.3%, respectively. The difference between the groups was found to be statistically significant [p=0.01].The percentage of unwanted pregnancies has reduced in Shiraz and this is indicative of the success of family planning. However the percentage of unwanted pregnancies in women over 35 is still high. Due to the fact that these women use unreliable methods training courses should be planned for them

survey of the students' knowledge about hepatitis in Shiraz university of medical sciences

Because of the importance of hepatitis and the prevalence of contamination with hepatitis virus, a survey of the students' knowledge about viral hepatitis was conducted in Shiraz University of Medical Sciences. This is a descriptive study performed in cross-sectional method. Ten percent of the students enrolled in different courses were selected by stratified sampling method. A structured questionnaire was designed to obtain information about their knowledge of hepatitis. The mean scores were 41.3 +/- 20.2 and 61 +/- 34.5 of 100 regarding knowledge about hepatitis and prevention of the disease, respectively. Students had more information about hepatitis prevention than about other aspects of the disease such as mode of transmission and symptoms. There were statistically significant differences between the knowledge of hepatitis by age, semester and educational degree [P<0.001]. This study showed no significant association between knowledge of hepatitis and sex, job, parents' education and the place of residence [P>0.05]. This study showed that students' knowledge of hepatitis was very weak. Their knowledge with respect to the prevention of the disease was higher than other aspects