Changing the learning environment: the medical student voice.

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Student Learning Environment

Background:

• Student perceptions of the learning environment significantly impact learning and outcomes.
• Clinical settings, designed for service, create tension with educational goals.
• Anticipated increases in medical student numbers necessitated an assessment of the learning environment.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the undergraduate medical learning environment from the students' perspective.
• To identify areas for improvement in the clinical component of medical education.
• To inform future planning in response to increasing student enrollment.

Main Methods:

• An open-ended question was added to the Dundee Ready Educational Environment Measure (DREEM).
• The modified DREEM was administered to 4th and 5th-year medical students.
• Student feedback on desired changes was collected to supplement the DREEM data.

Main Results:

• Common themes emerged regarding the need for earlier clinical exposure.
• Students requested fewer lectures and more consistent assessments.
• There was a call for improved relationships and clearer role/learning outcome definitions, particularly from 4th-year students.

Conclusions:

• Student feedback highlights critical areas for curriculum and assessment reform.
• Enhancing resource access, clarifying objectives, and ensuring consistent teaching are vital.
• Implementing more formative assessments, providing constructive feedback, mentoring, and role-modeling are recommended.