The Dundee Ready Education Environment Measure: A prospective comparative study of undergraduate medical students’ and interns’ perceptions in Oman

Abstract

Objectives: This study aimed to assess perceptions of the educational environment in Oman among medical undergraduate students and interns using the Dundee Ready Education Environment Measure (DREEM) tool. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted between October 2016 and April 2017 at the Oman Medical College (OMC), Sohar, Oman. A total of 737 medical undergraduate students and interns from the OMC and College of Medicine & Health Sciences of Sultan Qaboos University in Muscat, Oman, were invited to complete the DREEM questionnaire in the form of an online survey. Mean overall scores, subscale scores and individual item scores were subsequently compared between undergraduate students and interns. Results: A total of 418 undergraduate students and interns completed the survey (response rate: 56.7%). The mean overall DREEM score was 130.75 ± 12.69. While interns had higher mean DREEM scores than undergraduate students, this difference was not significant (133.00 ± 17.64 versus 128.50 ± 15.53; P = 0.326). The mean score percentages for the perceptions of learning (66.7% versus 58.3%; P = 0.028) and perceptions of teachers (75% versus 68.2%; P = 0.038) subscales were significantly higher among OMC interns compared to undergraduate students from the same college. The perceptions of the environment subscale received the lowest mean score percentages among undergraduate students and interns from both colleges. Conclusion: Overall, medical undergraduate students and interns viewed the educational environment in Oman in a positive light. It is possible that undergraduate students’ perceptions of the educational environment may become more favourable as they progress with their medical career and become interns.

Keywords: Medical Education; Undergraduate Medical Students; Internships; Perceptions; Oman.