Studentsâ€™ perception of educational environment at Public Sector Medical University of Pakistan

Journal of Research in Medical Sciences1735-199518520130608Studentsâ€™ perception of educational environment at Public Sector Medical University of Pakistan417421ENAssistant Professor, Department of Surgery, Dow International Medical College, Dow University of Health Sciences, Karachi, PakistanMedical Student, Dow International Medical College, Dow University of Health Sciences, Karachi, PakistanMedical Student, Dow International Medical College, Dow University of Health Sciences, Karachi, PakistanMedical Student, Dow International Medical College, Dow University of Health Sciences, Karachi, Pakistan20130608<ul><li><span style="font-size: 8.5pt; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; color: black; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA;">Background: <span style="font-size: 8.5pt; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; color: black; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA;">Assessing educational environment is vital in determining the success or failure of any institute. A positive environment leads to achievements of students in learning while a negative one would hinder their accomplishments. The aim of this study was to evaluate the medical students’ perceptions of their educational environment and to identify any differences related to gender and colleges affiliated with the University. </li><li><span style="font-size: 8.5pt; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; color: black; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA;">Materials and Methods: <span style="font-size: 8.5pt; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; color: black; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA;">This cross-sectional study involved all medical colleges affiliated with Dow University of Health Sciences from September to November 2011. DREEM questionnaire was administered to undergraduate medical students of the colleges. Mean and standard deviation of total DREEM score and five subscales were reported. The internal consistency coefficient (Cronbach’s alpha) was calculated. Student’s t test and one-way ANOVA were used for statistical analysis. </li><li><span style="font-size: 8.5pt; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; color: black; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA;">Results: <span style="font-size: 8.5pt; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; color: black; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA;">Total respondents were 586 students (response rate = 90.1%), 463 (79.0%) were female. Total DREEM mean score was 114.4/200 (57.2%). Highest score was found in the domain of student’s academic self-perceptions (58.7%) and lowest in domain of student’s perception of learning (53.7%). The inventory was found to have good reliability, with an alpha-coefficient of 0.89. There was significant difference of total DREEM score, student’s perception of learning, teachers, and atmosphere between different colleges. Females perceived their educational environment to be more positive compared to male students. </li><li><span style="font-size: 8.5pt; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; color: black; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA;">Conclusion: <span style="font-size: 8.5pt; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; color: black; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA;">The undergraduate educational environment of the university is more positive than negative. Highest score was found in domain of student’s academic self-perceptions and lowest in domain of student’s perception of learning.</li><li><span style="font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; color: black; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA;">Key words: <span style="font-size: 8.5pt; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; color: black; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA;">Dundee ready education environment measure, educational environment, perception, undergraduate</li></ul> http://jrms.mui.ac.ir/index.php/jrms/article/view/9221http://jrms.mui.ac.ir/index.php/jrms/article/download/9221/3907