Introduction: Medical and allied health educators around the globe agreed that an optimal educational climate is a vital aspect for effective learning to take place. Without a doubt, appraisal of the educational climate has been emphasized as a key to the delivery of high quality medical education. In addition, the appraisal provides useful feedback to particular institution to improve their curriculum. Objective: This study was employed as part of the School of Medical Sciences (SMS) Universiti Sains Malaysia curriculum review process. It aimed to explore the strengths and weaknesses of the current medical curriculum thus could provide useful information to guide the curriculum review committee during the review process. Method: A cross sectional study was conducted on a total of 656 medical students from the first, third and fifth year of study. Purposive sampling method was applied. DREEM was administered to the medical students to evaluate the educational climate in the studied medical school. Result: A total of 511 (77.9%) medical students completely responded to the 50 statements of DREEM. The mean global score across phases of medical training was 128.36/200. The global scores for year 1, year 3 and year 5 were 138.94/200, 122.27/200 and 125.49/200 respectively. Results showed that; 1) the medical school had reasonably level of educational climates across phases of medical training; 2) the medical teachers were knowledgeable and well prepared for the teaching; 3) the students were overloaded with factual knowledge; 4) the medical teachers were quite harsh to students during teaching session especially in clinical phase; 5) students experienced a significant amount of stress that led to poor memory; 6) the learning process was inclined toward teacher-centered rather than student-centered learning; 7) students had a considerable healthy social relationships with peers as well as others; and 8) academic dishonesty became more apparent in the clinical phase. Conclusion: The medical school's educational environment across different phases of study was more positive than negative. However, there are plenty of rooms for improvement as perceived by the medical students. The medical school should address various important issues highlighted in this article during the curriculum review process.

Introduction: In order to produce competent physiotherapy graduates with the generic attributes much sought after by the health care providers in the country, the higher education institution needs to ensure the educational environment of the school is positive. Students' positive perception of their educational environment would facilitate their learning experience to be more meaningful and relevant. Objective: The aim of this study was to measure physiotherapy students' perception of their educational environment at the School of Physiotherapy AIMST University and Kolej Sains Kesihatan Bersekutu Sungai Buloh and to identify the areas of concern for remedial measures. Method: This research was a cross sectional study consisting of two phases using both quantitative followed by qualitative methods. The DREEM inventory consisting of 50 items under 5 domains was circulated to all the students (N=158) from both schools (AIMST and KSKB). The item mean scored below 2.00 were considered as problem areas and it was explored further through focus group discussion (N=12) as a qualitative study. Result: The overall mean score on the 50 items was 132.84 (SD 19.22) out of 200. Students' Perception of Learning (SPOL) scored the highest 32.34 (SD 4.17) followed by students' perception of Atmosphere (SPOA) 30.63 (SD 4.84), Students Perception of Teachers (SPOT) scored 30.52 (SD 3.98),Students Academic Self Perception (SASP) scored 22.03 (SD 3.20) and the last domain Students' Social Self Perception (SSSP) scored the least 17.32 (SD 19.22).All the domains scored toward more positive side of the educational environment. Four items scored less than 2.00 and these items were explored further with focus group discussion. Students from both schools had similarities as well as differences in their views over the concerned areas. Conclusion: This study revealed important information regarding the low scored items. Overall the students from both schools perceived their schools positively. Implementing the remedial measures for the problem areas would further enhance the respective educational environment and thus provide a conducive place for physiotherapy students to excel in their academic endeavour.

The HSC track and Biology background may be helpful for the medical school in selecting future students.

No abstract

Background: The importance of learning environment in teaching institution is increasingly being appreciated in terms of its effect on learning and outcome. Objective: The objective of this study was to explore students’ perception of learning environment for identifying measures to improve it of a private medical college, Bangladesh. Method: Two phase cross-sectional study combining quantitative and qualitative components was conducted among the students of a private medical college. In Phase I part the Dundee Ready Education Environment Measure (DREEM) inventory was used to obtain data for base line quantitative information on a total of 204 medical and final professional examinee students. Purposive sampling method was employed in this phase and the Item that scored >3 was categorised as highest and < 2 was categorised as lowest scored item. In Phase II part the highest and lowest score items were explored further by qualitative method of focus group discussions among teachers and students on two separate occasions. For focus group discussion a combination of 10 (clinical and preclinical) teachers and 10 students (2x5 =10) except the examinee batch were selected by convenience sampling method. The purpose and method of the focus group was clearly stated to the participants and a consent form was signed by one participant on behalf of the respective group. Results: The response rate was 100% in Phase I part of the study with a perceived global DREEM mean score was 120/200 (22.984) which indicated students’ positive perception towards the learning environment of ISMC. The global score for year 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and examinee students were 133/200 (12.959); 134/200 (15.678); 127/200 (9.895); 112/200 (17.205); 67/200 (22.623) and 14/200 (22.984) respectively. The 1st year and 2nd year had highest global score whereas 5th year students had lowest score. The perceived Domains mean scores for Students Perception of Learning (SPoL) was 29.35/48 (8.189); Students Perception of Teacher (SPoT) 27.24/44 (5.195); Students Academic Self Perception (SASP) 18.69/32 (6.726); Students Perception of Atmosphere (SPoA) 28.09/48 (6.844) and Students Social Self Perception (SSSP) 14.65/28 (2.952) which indicated students’ positive perception in all five Domains of DREEM as well. Out of 50 items three scored >3 and 7 items scored <2 which were explored further by focus group discussions among teachers and students to know the underlying causes for such scores. many similar issues were identified by both the groups in focus group discussion. Conclusion: The combination of a quantitative and qualitative method revealed students’ positive perception and the strong and weak areas of the learning environment of ISMC. The findings were used in recommending remedial measure for creating an encouraging learning environment of ISMC which is one the main ingredient for effective learning.Bangladesh Journal of Medical Science Vol.15(2) 2016 p.234-242