Perception of Educational Environment Among Undergraduate Students in a Chiropractic Training Institution

Abstract

Per J. Palmgren, RC, MMedEd, Scandinavian College of Chiropractic, and Madawa Chandratilake, MBBS, MMedEd, University of Dundee Purpose: The impact of the educational environment in student learning is well documented. However, there is a scarcity in the literature exploring the educational environment in chiropractic training institutions. This study aimed to identify the perceived educational environment in a chiropractic training institution and the possible perceptual differences among different demographic groups. Methods: The perceived educational environment was surveyed using Dundee Ready Education Environment (DREEM), which is a validated, selfadministered, and Likert-type inventory. DREEM items focus on subdomains related to learning, teachers, selfconfidence, academic atmosphere, and social environment. The results were analyzed and interpreted in relation to standard norms of DREEM and demographic variables. Results: The survey was completed by 124 chiropractic undergraduate students (response rate 83%). Statistically, the inventory items showed high correlation and the subdomains showed a close relationship. Overall the DREEM score was very high: 156.1/200 (78%). The subdomain scores were also at very high levels. However, the scoring of four items by students was consistently poor: lack of a support system for stressed students, 1.8 (SD 1.1); authoritarian teachers, 1.8 (SD 1.2); inadequate school time-tabling, 2.0 (SD 1.1); and overemphasis on factual learning, 2.0 (SD 1.0). There were no statistically significant differences in DREEM scores between gender, age, minority, and ethnicity groups. Conclusions: In general, students perceived that a sound educational environment is fostered by the institution and its educational program for all students despite their demographic variations. However, certain specific elements of the educational process may need to be addressed to improve the educational experience. (J Chiropr Educ 2011:25(2):151-163)

Reassessing the educational environment among undergraduate students in a chiropractic training institution: A study over time

“…20,21 DREEM is suitable for gauging the environment in educational contexts, 14 and it has been reported to have good psychometric properties in many diverse contexts, with evidence based on test content (content and construct validity) [22][23][24] and internal consistency (reliability). 19,[25][26][27][28] The instrument has undoubtedly contributed to establishing a greater contextual understanding of professional health care education. Although numerous studies have been carried out to explore medical, osteopathic, dentistry, physiotherapy, and nursing educational environments, there appears to be a gap in the scientific literature on analyses of chiropractic educational environments, with only a few studies endeavoring to identify students' perceptions.…”

A qualitative exploration of chiropractic and physiotherapy teachers' experiences and conceptualizations of the educational environment

“…We have previously quantitatively introspected both chiropractic and physiotherapy students' perceptions of the educational environment. 4,12,13 These empirical findings suggest that both these groups have similar judgments of the environment and perceive it as very good, but some aspects of the environment recorded low scores in both the cross-sectional and the longitudinal data, such as limited support for stressed students, teachers being authoritarian, and an overemphasis on factual learning. Moreover, even though a handful of surveybased investigations, apart from ours, have been conducted on these student populations, 4,[13][14][15] to our knowledge there are no existing qualitative explorations of how teachers in these contexts experience the educational environment.…”

Perception of Educational Environment among Undergraduate Medical Students

“…Similar results have been reported by Tripathy S et al 1 This view has been reported by other studies as well. 13,14,15,16 Health care system exposed to a diversity of pressures, many of which may cause stress. 13 Guthrie et al 17 reported that even in early years of health care education upto 50% of students' stress is related to aspects of course work.…”

“…13,14,15,16 Health care system exposed to a diversity of pressures, many of which may cause stress. 13 Guthrie et al 17 reported that even in early years of health care education upto 50% of students' stress is related to aspects of course work. Bassaw et al 18 have argued that students must be supported all the way through educational path, from entering school to qualifying and beyond.…”

“…13,15 So good coordination, good resourcing and simplified schedule might be the assets for this. When looking at the domain scores students' perception of teachers scored the lowest in this study.…”