The Educational Environment of Main Clinical Wards in Educational Hospitals Affiliated to Iran University of Medical Sciences: Learners' Viewpoints Based on DREEM Model

Introduction: DREEM (Dundee Ready Education Environment Measure) model is used as a diagnostic tool for assessing educational problems and effectiveness of educational changes as well as identifying the difference between real and optimum environments. This tool measures the teaching and learning environ-ment. The aim of this study was to investigate the viewpoints of residents and interns of four main clinical wards in four main hospitals of Iran University of Medical Sciences about the educational environment. Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study was performed in four main clinical wards (internal medicine, pediatrics, surgery, and gynecology) of four university hospitals (AliAsghar, Rasoule Akram, Firouzgar, and AkbarAbadi). The DREEM questionnaire with some minor changes in accordance with the national culture was used as a standard tool. The fifty item questionnaires including five domain of learning, teachers, student's perception about her/his scientific capability, the climate dominating the educational environment, and student's perception about his/her social status were distributed among residents (n=86) and interns (n=107). Data was analyzed by SPSS software. Results: The mean of the achieved scores in 5 domains was 140.6 out of 200 which was considered as positive. Comparing the mean of 5 domains showed no significant difference. The mean of the domains earning 70.3% of the score was assessed almost desirable. The viewpoints of two genders of learners showed no significant difference. Residents' viewpoints differed significantly from interns' viewpoints. The total score of gynecology ward was significantly lower than internal medicine and pediatric wards but it was not significantly different from surgery ward. Conclusion: Although, the educational environments of clinical wards were evaluated as almost desirable (in internal and pediatrics wards), it is essential for faculty members to place more efforts on observing principles of instructional design and create an appropriate educational environment in order to provide a better learning for students. DREEM model may be used for monitoring and assessing modifications and changes made in educational programs.