The status of accountable education in the Surgery Department, Tabriz, Iran

Background: Accountability brings transparency and commitment to improve adherence to the mission and upgrade the current system. The medical education system bears a responsibility to be accountable towards the community, which involves examining the fulfillment of the university’s goals in this area. Therefore, this study has reviewed the fulfillment of accountable indicators in the study group.

Methods: This descriptive study was carried out in the surgery department at the Tabriz University of Medical Sciences in the teaching hospitals of Imam Reza and Sina. it was done based on accountable education measurement tool that included 10 areas, 25 criteria and their associated markers. The data collection method was based on interviews, observation and review of documents.

Results: The average performance (mean 38.6%) of the surgery department across the ten areas of social accountability in education was at a moderate level. There was no performance recorded in the 2nd and 9th areas and the performance in the 8th and 10th areas was poor. Areas 1, 4, 5, 6, and 7 had a moderate performance and the Area 3 had a fairly good performance average.

Conclusion: The performance of the study group is based on some factors such as the relationship between the Medical Education Development Center and the Medical Education Department and their knowledge of accountability principles and criteria, and the knowledge and application of teaching, assessment, and evaluation methods as well as the knowledge of accountable education.