Journal of Modern Medical

Introduction: The purpose of this study was to analyze the content of the undergraduate curriculum of the Medical Library and Information Science curriculum approved in 2017 based on the competencies included in it.

Method: The present study was conducted using quantitative content analysis. The unit of analysis was "phrase". The statistical population of the present study consisted of all basic, compulsory, optional, and internship courses included in the curriculum. The data collection tool was a checklist. Data analysis was performed through coding and descriptive statistics including frequency and percentage.

Findings: The findings showed that undergraduate courses had the least correspondence with the components of research and writing scientific articles, critical thinking, and communication skills, and the most correspondence with communication and education components, and the components of research, technology, science evaluation, and counseling were relatively well reflected only in reference courses. The results also showed that the research skills of medical librarians have been neglected in the curriculum. Basic and reference courses had the least correspondence with the expected practical skills. The components of information search and organization had a relatively good correspondence with the courses analyzed.

 Conclusion: The findings indicate that the expected capabilities and especially the practical skills are not well reflected in the undergraduate curriculum of medical library and information science. Accordingly, it is necessary to review this curriculum in Iran and include theoretical and practical units in it so that it will contain the specialized skills of clinical librarians.