Behavior of the external evaluation process of medical specialties at the University of Matanzas

Abstract

Introduction: the accreditation of postgraduate specialties is the expression of quality of an educative program. Among its procedures, it establishes the auto-evaluation by the proper program executors and the external evaluation with a view to accreditation.
Objective: to describe, according to the quality pattern on The System of Evaluation and Accreditation of Postgraduate Specialties,  the behavior of the external evaluation process for the accreditation of medical specialties in the University of Medical Sciences of Matanzas, in 2018-2019.
Materials and methods: a descriptive exploratory, predominantly qualitative study to describe the behavior of the external evaluation of the programs of Training Medical   Specialties in the University of Medical Sciences of Matanzas. The used theoretical methods were the analytic-synthetic one, the inductive-deductive, and the historical-logical; empiric methods and documental reviewing were also used.
Results: Insufficiencies were found related to obtaining scientific degrees, low publication rates of the training staff and poor publication of the students’ scientific results. It was evidenced that the evaluated indicators were close to the standards set up for the used methodology.
Conclusions: several strengths and weaknesses of the university to affront the accreditation process of the postgraduate specialties were found during the process of auto evaluation.  The elaboration of the improvement plan and its control are usually the suitable ways to achieve the quality management and the final result.