Evaluation of clinical environment from the perspective of medical learners of Kashan University of Medical Sciences based on DREEM model in 2018

The learning environment is a behavioral determinant and the student's understanding of the environment is very effective in learning and is very important in clinical education. The use of the DREEM model as a diagnostic tool is used to identify the difference between the real environment and the desired environment. The purpose of this study was to investigate the views of medical learners about educational environment.

 This descriptive cross-sectional study was done in 2018 and the views of 143 medical learners (residents, interns, and clerkships) using the DREEM questionnaire in five areas of student perception of learning, professors, educational atmosphere, scientific ability, and social conditions and in Kashan’s Shahid Beheshti Hospital. SPSS16 statistical software, ANOVA and t-test were used to analyze the data.

 Among the different levels of the DREEM model, the student's perception of social conditions had the highest and the student's perception of the teacher had the lowest average score. Students' perceptions of the educational environment were unfavorable in all areas. In terms of age, level of education, and year of residency, no differences were observed between the study groups in any of the 5 areas of clinical environment assessment (P <0.05). In terms of gender, the areas of student perception of the professor, his educational climate, as well as the study of all areas had significant differences (P <0.05) and the areas of student perception of their scientific ability and social conditions did not have significant differences (P>0.05).

Educational environment of clinical departments of university was assessed as unfavorable in all areas. Therefore, more attention of professors to the principles of educational design and the creation of appropriate educational space in order to students’ better learn is essential. The DREEM model can be used to monitor and measure modification and change in clinical education program