Evaluation of Iraqi medical students views on pediatrics

ABSTRACT

To evaluate Iraqi undergraduate medical students views on pediatrics. A questionnaire survey recruited undergraduate 6[th] year medical students of Al-Kindy College of Medicine, Baghdad University, in July 2007. The collected data represented their views on pediatrics in terms of their willingness to be pediatricians in the future and their satisfaction with pediatric theoretical and clinical teaching curricula emphasizing exactly the main items that werent fulfilled adequately. We analyzed the data statistically using Chi- square. Out of 107 students recruited in the study, 98 accepted to participate in the questionnaire survey with a respondent rate of 91.6%. Willingness to become a pediatrician was stated in 24.5% of respondents [18.4% males vs. 6.1% females] [p>0.05]. Overall, 58.2% of respondents [44.9%] males vs. 13.3% females] [p> 0.05] weren 't satisfied with the theoretical curriculum and stated that items of infectious diseases [60.2%], nutrition [56.1%], poisoning [51.0%], and vaccination [46.9%] preponderantly weren't satisfied. On the other hand, 70.4% of respondents [54.1% males vs. 16.3% females] [p>0.05] weren't satisfied with the clinical curriculum and stated that items of history taking [49.0%], general appearance [45.9%], vital signs [45.9%], and anthropometric measurements [42.8%] predominately weren 't satisfied. The low enthusiasm of Iraqi medical students towards pediatrics highlights the need to consider modulating medical teaching programs to promote medical knowledge and essential clinical skills of medical students on one hand and suit the basic needs of the community on the other hand