ABSTRACT
Background: An awareness of learning styles may help teachers modify their teaching methods to improve the educational outcomes of their students. Aim: The aim of this study was to determine the learning styles of medical students during their basic science training at Mashhad University Medical School (MUMS). Methods: The VARK (Visual, aural, read/write and kinesthetic learning styles) questionnaire was used to gather information on learning styles in 245 medical students during their basic science training at MUMS in 2014. The questionnaire was previously assessed for its validity and reliability. Data were analyzed using SPSS software. Results: Overall, 245 students (115 male/130 female) with a mean age of 22.17±2.27 years completed the questionnaire. Of these students 91.84% preferred a single- modal learning style and 8.16% of students preferred a multi-modal learning style. Of the students with a preference for a single modal learning style, 20% (45 students) had a preference for visual, and 53.33% (100 students) for auditory learning styles respectively; 22.22% (50 students) of students were categorized as single read-write and 4.44% (10 students) were classified as having a kinesthetic learning style preference respectively. Among the multi-modal group, 25% (5 students) of students preferred a bimodal and 75% (15 students) preferred a quad-modal learning style. There was a significant association between learning styles with age and gender (P<0.05), but there was no significant association between the preferred learning styles with marital status or place of residence (P>0.05). Conclusions: The key finding of our study was that learning style is age and gender dependent. Different teaching methods may be appropriate for men and women.
ABSTRACT
Management of the central nervous system malignancies are among the evolving areas of research and clinical practice requiring a well-coordinated interdisciplinary approach. The neuro-oncology scientific club (NOSC) has tried to cross the links between various disciplines’ experts involved in brain tumor care in Iran since 2011. The NOSC’s structured collaborative brain tumor registry (BTCR) and the support received from its steering committee and provincial boards have been the key elements for its success and growth so far. This scientific community not only has helped to optimize brain tumor care but provided interdisciplinary research opportunities to its members across Iran. Mashhad’s NOSC has been the pioneer in the above. During the 3rd Mashhad’s NOSC meeting held in November 21st 2013, the interim results from some important local neuro-oncology studies were presented. Some potential opportunities to improve the coordinated interdisciplinary brain tumor care within the province were discussed by neurosurgery, neuroradiology and radiation oncology faculty at this provincial NOSC meeting. Clinical outcome, survival data and prognostic factors in adult and pediatric gliomas over the past several years in Mashhad, the association between methyl guanine methyl transferase (MGMT) methylation status (determined by MSQP or methylation specific quantitative polymerase chain reaction) where among the main studies outlined during this event. We realize that optimized brain tumor management and productive research in neuro-oncology can only be achieved through an integrated approach and strong team work. This is what the NOSC pursues.