Evaluation of the educational environment of a new medical school in southeast Nigeria

Background: Educational environment (EE) affects transfer/acquisition of knowledge and skills needed in training medical students. Evaluation of EE by students is paramount to rating the EE of a medical school as well as evaluate effects of interventions. Assessing EE of medical schools is a current global trend. Objectives: To evaluate EE at the new medical school of the Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University Teaching Hospital Awka, Anambra State, Nigeria; calculate the total and subscale (Dundee Ready Educational Environment Measure) DREEM scores and assess differences in these scores amongst the different classes, age groups, and sexes. Methodology: This was a descriptive cross-sectional study using census survey. We administered DREEM questionnaire to 4th, 5th, and 6th year medical students in the 2018/2019 academic session after ethical approval from Health Research and Ethics Committee (HREC). Data entry and analysis done using SPSS. ANOVA was used for association between level of study, age group, and total DREEM/Subscale scores. Test for association between sex and mean subscale/total score was done using independent sample t-test. P value <0.05 was adjudged significant. Cronbach's alpha for internal consistency was calculated. Results: Of 206 students, 185 filled in the questionnaire. Total DREEM score was 119.66, Students' perception of teachers 26.74, Students' academic self Perception 21.94, Students' Perception of Learning 30.75, Students' Social Self Perception 15.04, Students' Perception of Atmosphere 25.26. Three items scored above 3 while 11 items scored <= 2. Fourth year students significantly scored higher than others for all subscale and total DREEM score. No significant associations between age or gender and subscale or total DREEM scores. Cronbach's alpha for all scores was 0.91. Conclusions: The EE was not excellent but "more positive than negative." Improvements are necessary in all domains of DREEM to ensure better quality of the educational environment.