Medical Students' Perception of the Educational Environment at Al-Nahda College by using DREEM inventory

Abstract Background: Educational environment encompasses everything that are found and occurs inside the school of Medicine. It affects the students’ ability to achieve their academic goals, feeling of academic satisfaction and well-being. Assessment of the educational environment of paramount-importance for all stake-holder, administrators and educators in the academic field. The aim of this study to measure the student perception towards the educational environment in Al-Nahda college.Methods: This is an institutional based cross-sectional study conducted in Al-Nahda College between January and February 2018. Study population were 634 medical students. Dundee Ready Education Environment Measure (DREEM) questionnaire was used as a survey tool for this study. Students’ responses were entered to the computer and analyzed by using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 24 (SPSS Inc. Chicago, IL, USA).Results: A (83.9%) pre-clinical and (16.1%) clinical stage participated in this study from all academic levels. Three hundred and sixty (56.9%) were male students, while the rest were female (43.1%). The overall mean (SD) DREEM score in this study is 130 (34.2), which indicates more positive educational environment than negative. Likewise, students’ perception for teachers, Students’ academic self-perception, Students’ perception of atmosphere and Students’ social self-perception. However, students’ perception for learning shows negative indicator. Students’ female gender have significantly higher mean (SD) overall DREEM score than male students [136 (31.5) Vs. 129 (35.5); P= 0.008], respectively. Female scored higher than male in subclass students’ perception for teachers, Students’ academic self-perception and Students’ social self-perception, [28.8 (7.8) Vs. 27.1 (8.5); P= 0.024]; [22.2 (5.6) Vs. 21.0 (7.2); P= 0.017]; [19.8 (4.9) Vs. 18.8 (5.4); P= 0.019], respectively.Conclusions: The educational environment is perceived positive in Al-Nahda College. Four out of five inventory subscale were perceived positive, while only students’ perception of learning sub-scale was perceived negative. Female students and non-Sudanese students perceived the educational environment better than the male students and Sudanese students. The perception of clinical students did not differ from that of pre-clinical students.