Challenges Faced by the 11th Scientific Olympiad of the Iranian Medical Students: A Qualitative Study

Abstract

Background: Holding student scientific Olympiad is a good opportunity to identify students who are able to analysis of health system issues based on the current and future needs of the country. In order to promote the Olympiad, it is necessary to determine the challenges of the Olympiad every year and to determine solutions for them. Aim: To explain the issues of the scientific Olympiad program of Iranian medical students. Methods: This study was conducted using content analysis method, and data were collected through 19 Semi-structured, in-depth interviews with experts from March 2019 to April 2020. Participants were selected using purposive sampling methods. Nineteenstudents, domain leaders, question designers, Olympiad executive experts, and teachers (11 males and eight females) participated in the interviews. The data analysis was performed based on the steps of Graneheim and Lundman's method. The interviews were recorded, transcribed, and subjected to a qualitative analysis by MAXQDA 2018 software. Results: From the analysis of data, three themes, including forgetting the goals of the Olympiad, improper test structure, and inappropriate planning, were emerging. Conclusion: Although the scientific Olympiad is a useful and beneficial program for the health system and consequently the society, but if its problems are not solved and due to its tedious and high costs, not only will it not be beneficial for the health system but also can damage it.