Trends in postgraduate medical education in Iran

Trends in postgraduate medical education in Iran Shima Tabatabai, Seyed Amir Mohsen Ziaee Background Iran is designing an evidence-based plan for promoting postgraduate medical education and efficient distribution of health professional human resources. An important part of this program is foresight studies for post graduate medical education considering the important trends affecting the future of health status and postgraduate medical education in Iran. In this article, we clarify such trends in Iran. Methods For this study, we used a systematic review of current evidence about the mega trends affecting the future of medical education. Also we gathered opinions of key stakeholders in expert panels. Results Following trends identified as affecting the health system and post graduate medical education in Iran: demographic changes; epidemiologic transition; physician work patterns changes, female specialists number growth, changes in patients’ expectations of health services; growth in information and communication technologies; new advances in diagnostic and therapeutic technolo ... BMC Health Services Research