Undergraduate Medical Student’s Perception About the Academic Learning Environment in Medical Colleges of North India: A Multicentric Study

Abstract

Aim: To improve the learning environment of medical institutions, this study was conducted to estimate the undergraduate medical student’s perception of the academic learning environment at their institutions. Methods: This was a cross-sectional, analytical, survey-based, multi-centric study among undergraduate medical students from three different medical colleges in Western Uttar Pradesh, India. The data was collected with an online survey including socio-demographic questions and the Dundee Ready Educational Environment Measure Inventory. Results: A total of 283 medical students participated. The total Dundee Ready Educational Environment Measure Inventory score was 125.22, whereas in 5 domains of the Dundee Ready Educational Environment Measure Inventory were students’ perception of learning with a score of 29.18, students’ perception of teachers with a score of 27.18, students’ academic self-perception with a score of 19.11, students’ perception of atmosphere with a score of 30.25, and students’ social self-perception with a score of 18.87 respectively. Conclusion: The mean total Dundee Ready Educational Environment Measure Inventory score was 125.22 indicative of "a more positive than negative perception". This indicates there is potential scope for excellence in the learning environment by medical institutions through regular evaluation and corrections. Keywords: medical education, medical students, learning, environment, inventories