Medical Student Satisfaction in Different Educational Locations.

Background. In order to evaluate teaching programs in different educational units and achieve a higher quality education, reviewing learners view points is of special importance. This study evaluates medical students satisfaction of different educational aspects including professors performance, medical equipment, educational methods, number and variety of patients, physical environment and welfare facilities in 4 educational locations (hospital ward, emergency ward, hospital outpatient department and non-hospital outpatient department). Methods. The study is a descriptive survey in which the data was collected by a single questionnaire including 29 questions which was completed by 400 medical students in the year 2000. Results. Statistical analysis revealed that the highest satisfaction rate was of professors’ performance, educational methods and, number and variety of patients in non- hospital outpatient centers while these centers carried the lowest satisfaction rate of medical equipments and students welfare facilities. The lowest students satisfaction rate was in hospital wards and of professors performance, educational methods and variety of patients whereas in this location the students had moderate satisfaction of physical environment, medical equipment and other facilities. Emergency wards had good medical equipment and physical environment but were moderate in professors performance and educational methods. Conclusion. This study showed that non hospital outpatient department produced the highest satisfaction rate in teaching programs. Therefore, it is recommended to increase the role of these centers in clinical medical education and improve medical equipment, physical environment and students welfare facilities in these centers.