Challenges and Obstacles of Clinical Medical Education in Iran: A Literature Review

Background: Clinical education is vital for training competent healthcare professionals. In Iran, numerous obstacles hinder quality training and practical skill development. This study aims to identify key challenges in clinical medical education and proposes practical, evidence-based strategies to improve its effectiveness and overall quality.Materials and Methods: This narrative review involved a comprehensive literature search conducted independently by two reviewers using both Persian and English keywords, including "challenges of clinical education," "medical education," and "quality of clinical education." The search covered reputable databases up to April ۲۰۲۵, including Scopus, PubMed, Web of Science, SID, CIVILICA, and Google Scholar. Relevant data were systematically extracted, analyzed, and categorized into key themes encompassing challenges, impacts, and solutions in clinical medical education.Results: Clinical medical education in Iran faces multiple interconnected challenges that undermine its overall quality. These challenges include overcrowded and inadequately equipped clinical environments, curricula that lack alignment with practical clinical needs, and weakened faculty-student relationships that negatively affect motivation and engagement. Insufficient educational infrastructure further impedes effective training in evidence-based medicine. Additionally, assessment methods predominantly emphasize rote memorization rather than promoting critical thinking and practical skills. The COVID-۱۹ pandemic has also further limited clinical access. Addressing these issues calls for comprehensive reforms focused on improving infrastructure, modernizing curricula through competency-based training, enhancing faculty development with an emphasis on mentorship and psychological support, implementing structured communication tools, and strengthening academic-clinical collaborations.Conclusion: Clinical medical education in Iran faces challenges such as inadequate infrastructure, misaligned curricula, weak faculty-student communication, and outdated assessment methods. Improving infrastructure, emphasizing practical skills, enhancing support systems, and adopting competency-based assessments are essential to elevate education quality, prepare competent healthcare professionals, and promote community health.

کلیدواژه ها:

Clinical Education ، clinical assessment ، Educational Challenges ، Iran ، Medical students