Analysis of undergraduate students’ perception of the educational environment of a medical school in Zambia provided a framework for strategic planning

View/ Open
Date
2017-05Author
Ezeala, C.C.
Moleki, M.M.
Type
ArticleLanguage
enMetadata
Show full item recordAbstract
The aim of this study is to propose a strategy for improvement of undergraduate students’ learning environment based on analysis of their perceptions. Medical, Pharmacy, and Physiotherapy undergraduate students participated in the study. The study used a quantitative descriptive design, based on the Dundee Ready Educational Environment Measure (DREEM) inventory. The University of South Africa and University of Zambia Ethics Committees provided ethical approval. Using stratified random sampling, participants were drawn from the Ridgeway Campus of the University. They responded to a demographic section and the 50 DREEM items. Data analysis included descriptive statistics on demographics, total and subscales DEEM scores, and mean scores on individual items. Cronbach’s alpha and confirmatory factor analysis provided reliability and validity indices of the dataset. Specific issues derived from individual items’ scores were used to propose a strategy. Results showed that total participants were 488 including 239 from Medicine, 135 from Pharmacy, and 74 from Physiotherapy. Response rate was 95.5%. Mean total score was 119.3/200. Scores within subscales of perception of learning, perception of teachers, academic self-perception, perception of atmosphere, and social self-perception were 29.87/48, 26.29/44, 20.96/32, 27.26/48, and14.86/14, respectively. Four strategic issues emerged from six items with mean scores below 2.0/4.0: lack of adequate social support for stressed students, substandard teaching and mentoring, unpleasant accommodation, and inadequate facilities. Strategic objectives were raised and strategic options recommended from literature. In conclusion,strategic planning in medical and health professions education should consider learners’ concerns by analysing their learning environments.
Citation
Ezeala, C.C. and Moleki, M.M. (2017). Analysis of undergraduate students’ perception of the educational environment of a medical school in Zambia provided a framework for strategic planning. British Journal of Medicine & Medical Research. 21 (5)Sponsorship
Office of Global AIDS/US Department of StatePublisher
British Journal of Medicine & Medical Research.
Subject
Health sciences education---ZambiaMedical Education, Undergraduate---Zambia
Education, Medical, Undergraduate---Zambia
Medical Education, Educational Environment---Zambia
Description
Strategy for improvement of undergraduate students’ learning environment
Collections
Related items
Showing items related by title, author, creator and subject.
-
EDUCATION IN ZAMBIA AT FIFTY YEARS OF INDEPENDENCE AND BEYOND: HISTORY, CURRENT STATUS AND CONTEMPORARY ISSUES
Masaiti, Gift (UNZA Press, 2018)Education in Zambia at Fifty Years of Independence and Beyond with the focus on History, Current Status and Contemporary Issues is a comprehensive critical reference guide to education in Zambia. Drawing on in-depth, ... -
Education in Zambia at Fifty Years of Independence and Beyond: History, Current Status and Contemporary Issues
Masaiti, Gift (UNZA Press, 2018)The World Bank and Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) number 4 underlines that, education is critical in enhancing a country’s socio-economic development. Quality and equitable education builds people’s skills and the ... -
Is mere party membership by a Republican President a recipe for constitutional crisis in his subsequent expulsion from the party
Chibalabala, John (2013-10-31)The office of President is the pinnacle of power in this country and is a creation of the Constitution, which is the fundamental Law in Zambia.1 The Constitution provides inter-alia for the establishment of the three ...