Quality Of Educational Environment At Wah Medical College: Assessment By Using Dundee Ready Educational Environment...

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Health Professions Education

Background:

• The educational environment significantly influences medical students' academic and professional careers.
• The Dundee Ready Educational Environment Measure (DREEM) is a validated tool for assessing undergraduate health professional educational environments.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the perceptions of students across all five years regarding their educational environment at a private medical college.
• To identify specific strengths and weaknesses in the learning environment.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional study was conducted at Wah Medical College over six months (January-June 2015).
• The fifty-item Dundee Ready Educational Environment Measure (DREEM) inventory was administered to all 500 medical students.
• Data were collected from 400 students, achieving an 80% response rate.

Main Results:

• The overall DREEM score was 122.63 out of 200 (61.3%), indicating a predominantly positive perception of the learning environment.
• High scores were observed in students' participation in classes, a relaxed atmosphere, and confidence in passing exams.
• Specific areas requiring improvement were identified, suggesting opportunities for enhancement.

Conclusions:

• Student perceptions of the learning environment at Wah Medical College are generally positive.
• The study highlights specific areas for faculty intervention to improve teaching methodologies.
• Enhancements can lead to a more productive and enjoyable learning experience for future medical students.