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Background: Being a nurse is more than just a series of business activities and skills. In fact, it is a part of the process of socialization, which is internalization and development of professional identity. Professional socialization is necessary for involving the students in professional practices. Thus, the purpose of this qualitative research was to increase the understanding of professional socialization in nursing and explore the related factors from the perspective of registered nurses and nursing students. Materials and Methods: In this qualitative design, data were collected on 43 nurses with a variety of experiences using semi-structured interviews and focus groups in the Shiraz University of Medical Sciences in 2012. Data were analyzed through inductive content analysis. Results: The data analysis revealed two main categories: (1) sense of belonging with three sub-categories of theory-practice incongruence, educational experiences and tacit knowledge and (2) forming professional identity consisting of three sub-categories of relatedness, internal motivation and role model. Conclusions: This study demonstrates that in nursing, sense of belonging and professional identity contributes to professional socialization; it is suggested that these factors, which improve socialization in nurses, be taken into account by authorities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Most of the knowledge acquired through lecturing is forgotten rapidly. As dentistry is becoming a more complicated field of study and as new techniques are introduced, the use of modern educational approaches to promote lifelong learning becomes necessary. This study is to compare cooperative teaching method and lecture method in terms of their impact on students' learning and their satisfaction in school of dentistry in Shiraz University of Medical Sciences. Methods: In this quasi experimental study sampling was census and all 9th semester students (60 students) taking theoretical orthodontics(I) were included. One topic, etiology of mandibular abnormalities, was taught to both randomly selected experiment & control groups. First, to assess knowledge & satisfaction of the students with lecture methods for etiology, a pre-test was applied. Then both groups were taught; the control group received instruction through lecture method and the experiment group formed 5-member subgroups and received instruction through cooperation. Then, both groups took a post-test. Data were analyzed through Wilcoxon and Mann-Whitney U using SPSS 12. Results: A significant difference was found between the mean scores of the students' satisfaction before and after applying the cooperative method. Also, there was a significant difference between the pre-test scores in the lecture group and the cooperative group (p<0.001), but no significant difference was observed between post-test scores of the two groups (P=0.1). Conclusion: The study showed that cooperative teaching method could be useful in teaching dentistry students and could enhance their intrinsic motivation, which in turn could improve learning quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Considering the necessity of dentistry students' involvement in learning treatment topics and, in order to achieve deeper learning, this study was performed to evaluate problem based learning method and compare it to traditional method of teaching orthodontics to dentistry students. Methods: This interventional study was performed on 64, fifth year dentistry students in 2007-2008 academic years. After selection and orientation of tutors, a trainer helped them to adjust to the new method. After orientation of students about PBL method, the groups were identified and the PBL method was performed in four steps. A pretest was taken from students to assess their attitude and satisfaction about traditional method of lecture. Then, A post-test evaluated their attitude toward and satisfaction with the new method. The domains of this method were assessed by 5 point Likert scale. Results were analyzed by SPSS software using descriptive and inferential statistics. Results: The average of achieved scores out of the total score of five was as so in areas of material organization (main subjects) (3.41±0.75), internal motivation (3.41±0.7), assignments appropriateness (3.38±0.53), and suitability of evaluation method (3.67±1.17). The mean of satisfaction score was 14 out of the total score of 20 which demonstrates agreement higher than average. Conclusion: By promoting learner's internal motivation, enhancing the quality of education, and, increasing continuous learning, PBL method could prove useful in teaching dentistry students. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The dental students, the same as other students, during their academic courses are required to learn a wide range of scientific subjects. Obviously, choosing the inappropriate method of study leads to confuse and disenchantment of students and it causes wasting of their energy. The purpose of this study was to assess the existing strengths and weaknesses of the skills and study habits in Dental Students of Shiraz University of Medical Sciences in 2009-10., Materials and Methods: In this cross-sectional study, all of the dental students (n = 274), who studied at the time of study at all levels in the academic year of 2009-10, were selected by the census. Data were collected by using the Huston University questionnaire consisted of two parts of demographic questions and 64 specific areas of study skills in eight domains of time management, concentration/memory, study aids/note taking, test strategies, information processing, motivation, self-assessment/reading, and writing skills. Following the retranslation of the questionnaire, the validity was confirmed by using the content validity method. The reliability was obtained by using the Cronbach's Alpha of 0.92. The data were analyzed with SPSS software version 17 and using analytical statistic tests., Results: Students who have previously participated in the study skills workshops had stronger skills in comparison with the students who had not participated in these workshops. Time management skills (P = 0.04), motivation (P = 0.0001) and information processing (P = 0.03) in students with professional status were in a more favorable position and showed significant differences in terms of educational levels. The study skills mean score of the students living in student housings in comparison with the other students were significantly higher (P = 0.04). Marital status showed no significant differences in reading skills., Conclusion and Recommendations: The review of study skills in the undergraduate and post-graduate dental students indicated that the residents had higher reading skills. By recognizing the existing strengths and weaknesses and holding programs through counseling centers can develop the study skills in the students.