Investigating the Attitude of Medical Students about Cultural Activities

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine the attitude of medical students of Babol University of Medical Sciences about cultural activities and their participation rate.Methods: This research is a descriptive-survey method. The statistical population of the present study included all medical students of Babol University of Medical Sciences in the academic year 2015-16. According to the data obtained from the university's statistics center, the statistical population is 1496 people. The sample is 310 people using the Morgan table. Sampling method is stratified random. Data collection tool is a researcher made questionnaire. To determine the initial reliability before the extensive implementation, the questionnaire was performed on 30 students of the colleges in a completely randomized way. The reliability of this study was 0.86 using Cronbach's alpha.Findings: There is a significant relationship between the age of medical students in cultural programs and their attitude about cultural programs. There is a significant difference between the gender of medical students in cultural programs and their attitude about cultural programs. There is a significant difference between the educational level in cultural programs and their attitude about cultural programs. Also, there was a significant difference between the level of participation and attitude of students towards cultural activities of students of Babol University of Medical Sciences.Conclusion: In a general summary of the results of the study, students have a positive view and a suitable approach to the cultural and artistic activities carried out at the university, which increases participation, creativity and spontaneity.


Introduction
Culture is a means of communication between human beings and is a necessary and indispensable factor for human life and the progress towards the happiness of the individual and the human community [1]. Cultural needs are important given the role they play in cultural development and the life of a community. These needs are largely dependent on the values and norms that the environment and society give it. Attention to cultural activities and promotion of it as a matter of close connection with the basic issues of society. As well as the correct use of information in this regard, causes the people of the community to be in a process where their destination is to achieve the highest and best feelings that human beings have achieved and thus, it will provide the intellectual and cultural development of the people of society, especially the youth [2]. Consideration of cultural activities is needed for the development of cultural knowledge, to strengthen the culture of citizenship, cultural transformation, cultural cooperation, the development of infrastructures and networks, cultural communication, the provision of universal access to cultural information, the identification of cultural priorities and the reduction of sub cultural consequences and so on [3]. Perhaps one of the most influential and best sectors to have an impact on the attitudes of the people of the university, where it can directly influence people, has a special impact on the culture of the people [4]. A university is not a science-producing enterprise, but rather a cultural intermediary that is constantly interacting with society. University is one of the most important pillars for any kind of transformation and innovation, and achieving high goals, independence, social and cultural progress and economic progress through higher education is possible [5]. In the meantime, the role of cultural activities is very important. University should be the focus of cultural activities. Considering the role and importance of the university as the center for discovering new truths in solving human problems and human societies [6]. It is expected to develop its own International Journal of Ayurvedic Medicine, 2018, 9(2), 88-91 ISSN: 0976-5921 goals and policies, taking into account the environmental, personal, cultural and social needs. In this regard, the present study deals with the attitude of students towards cultural activities and their participation in these activities [7]. It is hoped that through the results obtained, applied proposals will be offered to higher education institutions in order to promote the level of cultural activities of the university. Planning cultural activities, if undertaken at university level, could include positive aspects such as developing student creativity, developing students' intellectual skills, creating dynamism in higher education, and increasing the role of universities in defining cultural identity [8].
Etemadi (1995) considers cultural, social, and political activities of students to be effective tools for the success of their professional and professional life. In general, it should be acknowledged that universities are working to increase maturity and social competence and help students better understand the aesthetic values of life, and build self-confidence and sense of accomplishment [9]. Due to the importance of students 'cultural activities as an effective tool for the success of their professional and professional life, awareness of these activities and students' attitudes toward them is necessary, to help with the information provided by these surveys and to determine cultural policies and planning in this area, we can do the best to get the best from the least opportunities of cultural activities. By targeting such policies, individuals and centers working in cultural fields such as associations, cultural and artistic centers will be supported to provide creative and creative initiatives. The need for such a policy is awareness of the trends, expectations, and the amount of welcome that viewers and listeners have of these activities. Planning cultural activities, if undertaken at university level, can include positive aspects such as developing student creativity, developing students' intellectual skills, creating a dynamic in higher education, and increasing the role of universities in contemplating cultural identities. Therefore, this research studies the attitude of students towards cultural activities and their participation in these activities. It is hoped that through the results obtained, applied proposals will be presented to higher education officials in order to promote the level of cultural activities of the university. It is attempting to provide cultural planners with accurate and adequate information, planning a drummer.

Methods
This research is a descriptive-survey method. The statistical population of the present study included all medical students of Babol University of Medical Sciences in the academic year 2015-16. According to the data obtained from the university's statistics center, the statistical population is 1496 people. The sample is 310 people using the Morgan table. Sampling method is stratified random. Data collection tool is a researcher made questionnaire. The questionnaire has 23 questions and 2 dimensions which measures the extent of participation in cultural programs and attitudes towards cultural activities. The materials of this questionnaire are five-option "closed response" tests based on the Likert scale (very low = 1 to very much = 5) for the participation dimension and (totally disagree = 1 to totally agree = 5) for the attitude aspect. The method of compilation of components was that, first, using a comprehensive literature review on the subject of research, the components of each dimension were selected and reviewed in several stages and eventually confirmed by the professors. To determine the initial reliability before the widespread implementation, this questionnaire was performed on 30 college students in a completely randomized way. Cronbach's alpha method was used to obtain the reliability of the questionnaire. Using this method, the validity of the questionnaire was 0.86 and the validity of each of the dimensions of participation and attitude was 0.83 and 0.75, respectively, according to SPSS software. The method of data analysis is that, in the descriptive statistics section, the characteristics of respondents (including frequency and percentages by gender, educational level and age) were first provided. Then in the second part, in relation to the main questions and the subordinate research in the field of inferential statistics; Spearman test to examine the students' age with the degree of participation and their attitude towards cultural programs, Mann-Whitney test to compare male and female groups and their impact on student participation and attitude toward cultural programs, Kruskal Wallis's test for cross-sectional impact on student participation and attitude toward cultural programs, One-way chisquare test for student participation and attitude toward cultural programs as well Friedman's test was used to rank the level of participation and attitude of students to cultural programs. The software used in this study was version 21 of SPSS software.

Findings
The demographic information of the present study is that among respondents, 37.1% (115 people) were male and 62.9% (195 people) were female, 15.2 percent (47 people) in the areas of basic sciences, and 20.6% (64 people) were physiopathic, 31.6% (98 people) at the stage of clerkship medical, 32.6% (101 people) are internship. The age of respondents was 49% between 18-21 years old, 49% between 22-25 years old 2% between the ages of 26 and 30. The average age of respondents was 22, median is 22 and standard deviation is 1. The minimum age is 20 and the maximum age is 30 years. Also, the student participation rate in cultural activities is 17.1% too low, 27% low, 26% moderate, 16% high, and 12% is too high. And with an average of 2, middle of 3, and standard deviation is 1, in moderate level, and students' attitudes toward cultural activities are totally disagree to 7.1%, 21% disagree, 14% neither agree nor disagree, 34% agree and 22% totally agree. And with an average of 3, middle of 4 and standard deviation is 1, in good level.

Fatemeh Rezaei et.al., Investigating the Attitude of Medical Students about Cultural Activities
ISSN: 0976-5921 Table 1

. Relationship between the age of medical students of Babol University of Medical Sciences and the degree of participation and their attitude in cultural programs
As can be seen in the table above, there is a significant relationship between the age of medical students of Babol University of Medical Sciences and their level of participation and their attitude towards cultural activities with a significant level less than (0.05).

Table 2. The Effect of Gender on Students' Participation and Attitude in Cultural Plans
As can be seen in the table above, there is a significant difference between the gender of medical students of Babol University of Medical Sciences with their participation rate and their attitude toward cultural activities with a significant level below (0.05).
Studying the Kruskal Wallis's test statistic and the significance level of the effect of the educational level on students' participation and attitude in cultural programs showed that, there is a significant difference between the educational level of medical students of Babol University of medical sciences and their participation in cultural programs with a average score of 229.000 (Basic Science), 166.00 (Physiopath), 106.00 (Clerkship medical) and 161.00 (internship), Kruskal Wallis test statistic (65.000), and significant level less than (0.05). Also, there is a significant difference between the degree of medical students of Babol University of Medical Sciences with their attitude toward cultural activities with an average score of 198.000 (Basic Science), 109.00 (Physiopath), 210.00 (Clerkship medical) and 111.00 (Internship), Kruskal Wallis test statistic (94.000), and significant level less than (0.05).  Table 3.

One-variable chi-square test statistics table and a significant level related to the level of participation and attitude of students in cultural programs
As shown in the table above, according to the chi -square test statistic with a significant level of 0.000 which is a number smaller than 0.05, there is a significant difference between the level of participation and attitude of students in cultural programs of the Babol University of Medical Sciences.

Table 4. Friedman test statistic. Participation rate and attitude of students in cultural programs of Babol University of Medical Sciences
As shown in Table 4, there is a significant difference between the average rankings of the Chisquare Friedman test with 487.98, degrees of freedom 10.0 and significance level was 0.000, show that there is a significant difference between the average rankings of students participating in the Babol University of Medical Sciences. Also, the average of the rankings determined by the Chi-square Friedman test with 63.35 degrees of freedom and degree of freedom 10.0 and the significance level of 0.000 showed that there is a significant difference between the average grades of students' attitude towards the cultural activities of Babol University of medical sciences.

Discussion and Conclusion
According to table (1) and the mean of the present with the expected average and also with respect to the reported significant value of 0.000, which is less than 0.05, therefore, it can be concluded that there is a significant relationship between the age of medical students of Babol University of Medical Sciences and their participation and their attitude towards cultural activities. The results of this study are partly consistent with the results of the research, Shiri and Morshdi (2010), the researchers in a research entitled "cultural and artistic centers and development of social capital and study of the rate and forms of social capital of cultural and artistic centers of Tehran universities", it was concluded that the intra-group forms of social capital (inside the center) overcome the over- represented and generalized forms (inter-institutional and institutional) in the constituencies [10]. Also, the results of the research, Serajzadeh and Adhami (2008), titled "Studying the ethnic differences of students in terms of activities in cultural centers of universities, implemented on 20 universities covered by the Ministry of Science, Research and Technology, also, the results of this study are correct. In their research, they concluded that paying attention to these programs was very effective in increasing the spirit of participation in students [11]. According to Table 2 and the mean of the present with the expected average and also with regard to the reported significant value of 0.000, which is less than 0.05, therefore, it can be concluded that there is a significant difference between the gender of medical students of Babol University of Medical Sciences with their participation rate and their attitude towards cultural activities. Also, there is a significant difference between the educational level with the level of participation and attitude of students with a significant level less than (0.05). That is, the level of participation in educational levels is not at a level. The results of table (3) show that according to the chi-square test statistic with a significant level of 0.000, which is a number smaller than 0.05, shows that there is a significant difference between the level of participation and attitude of students in cultural programs of the Babol University of Medical Sciences. Therefore, the level of participation and cooperation of students with regard to participation in cultural activities are different. This finding is not in the same direction by Farzin (2005) "Studying attitudes of students at Shiraz University toward cultural and artistic programs". The findings of this study indicate that students' interest in cultural programs is relatively high and these people feel the need for cultural literature to be relatively large, but their level of awareness of these programs is negligible [12].
In a general overview of the research results, students have a positive outlook and an appropriate approach to cultural activities conducted at the university, and it increases the participation, creativity and spontaneity, which this approach can be considered very positive for practitioners, because having a positive outlook on a topic, among students, can provide the platform for the more effective implementation of these programs, but what should be considered is the focus on the constituents of these programs, as for cultural activities and human transcendental values, we have seen that these programs have not yet fully covered the goals that have come about, for this reason, they should always seek to grow, develop and reduce their weaknesses.