Abstract

Background and Aim: Students’ perception of the educational environment is an important factor that affects the learning process in educational programs. Theories have offered support that the learning place affects a student’s academic achievement, performance, and future career markedly. Assessment of students’ satisfaction with and perception of their learning environment is an important indicator in most universities and institutions. This study aimed to evaluate the perception of the learning environment of medical undergraduates and interns at Umm Al-Qura University (UQU) and compare between the old and reformed curriculum participants.

Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted at the College of Medicine at UQU, Makkah, Saudi Arabia. A total of 390 medical undergraduates and interns from the College of Medicine were invited to complete the Dundee Ready Educational Environment Measure questionnaire in the form of an online survey.

Results: A total of 390 medical undergraduates and interns completed the survey (response rate: 30.95%). Interns had higher mean DREEM scores than undergraduates; this difference was not significant (172±25 vs. 171±18; P=.974). The mean score percentage for the perception of teachers was 73.2% for interns compared with 72.1% for undergraduates. Perception of ambiance subscale received the lowest mean score percentage among all participants.

Conclusion: Medical undergraduates and interns perceived the learning environment at the College of Medicine of UQU positively. Areas of weakness should be addressed to improve and develop the educational environment at our university.

Key words: Medical Education, Learning Environment, Perception, Medical Undergraduates, Interns