Medical laboratory science and nursing students' perception of academic learning environment in a Philippine university using Dundee Ready Educational Environment Measure (DREEM).

Jonathan M Barcelo

doi:10.3352/jeehp.2016.13.33

Abstract

PurposeThis study aimed to compare the perception of the academic learning environment between medical laboratory science students and nursing students at Saint Louis University, Baguio City, Philippines.MethodsA cross-sectional survey research design was used to measure the perceptions of the participants. A total of 341 students from the Department of Medical Laboratory Science, School of Natural Sciences, and the School of Nursing answered the Dundee Ready Education Environment Measure (DREEM) instrument from April to May 2016. Responses were compared according to course of study, gender, and year level.ResultsThe total mean DREEM scores of the medical laboratory science students and nursing students did not differ significantly when grouped according to course of study, gender, or year level. Medical laboratory science students had significantly lower mean scores in the sub-domains ‘perception of learning’ and ‘perception of teaching.’ Male medical laboratory science students had significantly lower mean scores in the sub-domain ‘perception of learning’ among second year students. Medical laboratory science students had significantly lower mean scores in the sub-domain ‘perception of learning.’ Nursing students identified 7 problem areas, most of which were related to their instructors.ConclusionMedical laboratory science and nursing students viewed their academic learning environment as ‘more positive than negative.’ However, the relationship of the nursing instructors to their students needs improvement.

Highlights

The Dundee Ready Educational Environment Measure (DREEM) instrument is commonly used to evaluate the learning environment of medical science and other health science students in various academic settings, and the results can be used to compare different institutions offering health courses [1,2,3,4]
This study describes the perceptions of medical laboratory science students and nursing students at Saint Louis University, Baguio City, Philippines
Among them the differences in the mean sub-domain scores for perception of learning and perception of teaching between the two student groups were statistically significant In contrast, the mean scores of medical laboratory science students in academic self-perception were higher, but the difference was not statistically significant

Summary

Introduction

The Dundee Ready Educational Environment Measure (DREEM) instrument is commonly used to evaluate the learning environment of medical science and other health science students in various academic settings, and the results can be used to compare different institutions offering health courses [1,2,3,4]. In the Philippines, the DREEM is not commonly utilized to determine the perceptions of students concerning their learning environment. Aside from the lack of records on the strengths or weaknesses of institutions offering health professions courses, the Commission on Higher Education has reported that tertiary level schools in the Philippines face several problems, such as having unqualified or poorly trained teachers, inadequate facilities, and dilapidated instructional materials (Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization, Innovation and Technology [SEAMEO INNOTECH], 2003).

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