[Student participation is a key to any change: the students' role in medical education reform]

Background and Objective: The general census is that engagement in educational decision making is the students right. To have an effective reform, the students' and faculty members' involvement are necessary. The aim of this study was to determine the students' perspective of their role in medical education reforms

Methods: In this qualitative study, semi-structured interviews were performed on 50 students of Golestan University of Medical Sciences, Iran, in 2012. Participants were included in the study by purposeful sampling method and with maximum variation. The data collection stopped when data saturation was achieved. One open-ended question was asked from all of the participants; "what is the student's role in medical education reform?". The recoded interviews were transcribed line-by-line and analyzed using content analysis method

Results: Student involvement as a key to any change was the main theme which emerged in the study. Participation in educational decision making, reform-oriented thinking, self-directed and critical attitude, the ability to use applied scientific knowledge, creative thinking, and problem-solving ability were the themes which were obtained. Motivated instructors, dynamic environment, and learning opportunities were also mentioned as crucial elements for the students' participation in education reform

Conclusion: For any educational reform to be successful, it requires students' involvement. By listening to students, we can learn about the ways of improving the classroom or university. Abilities such as criticism, self-directing, and problem solving plus having committed professors and dynamic learning climate, together make reform possible

[Students' viewpoints and experiences about evaluation of academic staff in theoretical courses]

Evaluation of academic staff is conducted in different ways. One of these methods which are commonly applied nowadays is asking students [the only group that experience the direct effect of teaching during the course] about their opinions. Hence, this study was conducted to present the students' viewpoints about the evaluation of academic staff's performance using evaluation forms. In this qualitative, using phenomenology, 40 students of nursing, midwifery, medicine, and allied health sciences from different semesters were participated in individual semi-structured interviews and group discussions in order to understand their viewpoints and experiences about evaluation of academic staff in theoretical courses. The interviews were tape-recorded and transcribed verbatim. The data was analyzed using the "content analysis" method. Our findings suggest that although the students are in agreement with evaluating the academic staff, they are reluctant to fill in the forms and stated that the current situation is not satisfactory. "Change, relativity, a student as a judge, non-effective time, open doors, effective question, and non-effective question" represent students' viewpoints and experiences about evaluating academic staff in theoretical courses using evaluation forms. The participants emphasized the evaluation should be used as a positive reinforcement for improving education quality. Academic staff is the main elements in students' learning and could act inhibitors and facilitators. By teaching evaluation, one can make changes or corrections in further programs. Meanwhile, creative interventions are essential to satisfy students

[ process of women's decision making for selection of cesarean delivery]

Although cesarean section has been considered as a way for reducing infant and mother mortality rate, it has been changed to a general dilemma, so that in Iran, cesarean rate is higher than World Health Organization standards. The aim of this study was to discover the process of decision making for selection of cesarean delivery by those who did not have indication for cesarean. Grounded theory method was used in this study. Twenty six pregnant women, experiencing the third trimester, were selected based on purposeful and theoretical sampling. For access to participants, the researcher referred to one teaching health care centers of Iran University of Medical Sciences and two private offices of gynecology in Tehran, Iran. The data were collected by semi-structured interviews. All data were audio taped and transcribed. Data collection and analysis was performed simultaneously. Constant comparative method was used to analyze data. The main categories were "fear due to not having knowledge", "being painless, and physical and spiritual peace" and "unpleasant experience of others and their encouragement", "being worry of complications", inappropriate communication of health care staff", and "the feeling of loneliness and death", "infant's health". Constant analysis of data revealed that women get through for creation balance in order to receipt the best result, process of to consider, making a lawful and to choice. Attentive to main theme that it is fear of labor and delivery is a physiology phenomenon. It is necessary to encourage methods for relieving pain and fear and for promoting self-esteem in order to make good decision by pregnant women. It is also important to encourage women for vaginal delivery