Journal of Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences

Comparison of the Critical Thinking Skills among Medical Students in Different Educational Levels in Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences in 2013

M. Rezaeian^[1], M. Zare-Bidaki^[2], M. Bakhtar^[3], K. Afsharmanesh^[4]

Received:26/05/2014       Sent for Revision: 23/07/2014      Received Revised Manuscript: 02/08/2014     Accepted: 19/08/2014

Background and Objective: Critical thinking is one of the most important types of thinking and a necessary skill for accurate decision-making. The aim of this study's to investigate and compare the critical thinking disposition in various educational levels of medical students of Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences.

Materials and Methods: In this cross-sectional study Ricketts Critical Thinking Disposition Inventory (CTDI) questionnaire accompanied by some demographic and educational questions were used. The questionnaires were submitted to 250 students of whom 165 (66%) were finally returned the completed questionnaire. Data were analyzed using statistical tests including Correlation, Student’s t and ANOVA.

Results: The mean score of critical thinking disposition in 165 students participating in our study was determined to be equal to 11.22±1.31. The critical thinking in male students was statistically higher than female ones (11.41±1.34 versus 10.94±1.21). There was a weak but significant reverse correlation between critical thinking disposition score and students’ mean scores of passed lessons (r=-0.156, p=0.045). Furthermore, mean scores of the maturity and engagement subscales significantly differed in various educational levels (p≤0.05 and p=0.02, respectively).

Conclusion: Critical thinking disposition in medical students of Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences was relatively estimated satisfactory, compared to many other Iranian universities; however it seems that the need for teaching and applying the critical thinking skills is especially more imperative for internship students.

Key words: Critical thinking, Maturity, Engagement, Medical students

Funding: This research was funded by Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences.

Conflict of interest: None declared.

Ethical approval: The Ethics Committee of Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences

How to cite this article: Rezaeian M, Zare-Bidaki M, Bakhtar M, Afsharmanesh K. Comparison of the Critical Thinking Skills among Medical Students in Different Educational Levels in Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences in 2013. J RafsanjanUniv Med Sci 2014; 13(9): 715-24. [Farsi]