Perceptions of Saudi medical students on the qualities of effective teachers. A cross sectional study

To identify the attributes of an effective medical teacher that students value the most.

A quantitative survey was performed in the College of Medicine, Qassim University, Buraidah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, between April and May 2012, using a pretested self-administered questionnaire distributed to all students. It captured their opinions on the qualities and attributes of good teachers. Each item was measured on a 5-point Likert scale. Data were entered and analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences Version 17.

Three hundred and fifty-six students from all years responded. The most important attributes from the students' perspectives were "respectful to students", "expert on the subject", "organizes good lectures", "understands/relates to students", and "good communication skills". On the other hand, "good sense of humor", "explains and shares personal experiences", "self-sacrificing", "gives good marks to all students", and "dresses up appropriately" were least valued by students. Attributes related to performance were valued more by students compared to personality attributes.

Medical teachers and administrators should focus on improving the attributes identified most important to the students. Future studies could define the important attributes more explicitly.