Evaluating the Educational Environment of a Nursing School by Using the DREEM Inventory

Abstract

Background:Educational Environment (EE) is considered as a key component of educational curriculum.Aim:The aim of this study was to evaluate the EE of Nursing and Midwifery School of Tehran University of Medical Sciences (TUMS) by using Dundee Ready Education Environment Measure (DREEM).Methods:This cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted in 2013. Totally, 500 nursing or midwifery students were recruited to the study by using the quota sampling method. Study data were collected by using a demographic questionnaire and the Persian version of DREEM questionnaire. The reliability of questionnaire was confirmed by Cronbach alpha which was 0.876 and 0.68–0.866 for the whole questionnaire and its domains, respectively. The data were analyzed by using SPSS v. 21.0.Results:Totally, 350 completely-filled questionnaires were included in the final analysis. Most of the participants were nursing students (79.7%), female (74.6%), single (86.0%), bachelor (86.9%), first-year (36.9%), with mean age of 22.5 years. The mean item score of the DREEM was 2.09±0.49 (104.39 from 200). Moreover, the mean item scores of the domains were as follows, perception of learning: 1.93±0.61; perception of teachers: 2.42±0.56; perception of educational atmosphere: 2.05±0.59; academic-self-perception: 2.06±0.65; and social-self-perception: 2.17±0.62. All domains were statistically significant except the perception of learning and educational atmosphere (p<0.001)Conclusion:Although the educational environment of the study setting was found to be positive, it requires improvements. Strategies such as adopting student-centered approaches, revising the educational curriculum, strengthening student-teacher relationship, being sensitive and responsive to students’ educational needs, providing constructive feedback to them, and creating a comfortable, friendly, and supportive atmosphere can improve the educational environment.

Influence of the perceived educational environment on future career planning among nursing students in Egypt

“…Despite differences in these studies, the mean score fell well within the range of 101~115, suggesting that perceptions of the environment were more positive than negative. However, the results of the current study are in contrast with those of other studies, which reported DREEM scores of 89/200 [29] and 92.6/200 [1].…”

Influence of the perceived educational environment on future career planning among nursing students in Egypt

“…Despite differences in these studies, the mean score fell well within the range of 101~115, suggesting that perceptions of the environment were more positive than negative. However, the results of the current study are in contrast with those of other studies, which reported DREEM scores of 89/200 [29] and 92.6/200 [1].…”

Student nurses’ perceptions of their educational environment at a school of nursing in Western Cape province, South Africa: A cross-sectional study

“…The subscale means scores ranging between 60.7% and 100% of the maximum scores also indicated a positive perception of the educational environment. These results are consistent with the findings of the majority of the studies conducted around the world (Brown et al 2011; Hamid et al 2013; Imanipour et al 2015; Victor et al 2016).…”

Student perception of the educational environment in regular and bridging nursing programs in Saudi Arabia using the Dundee Ready Educational Environment Measure

“…Out of a total score of 200, the mean DREEM score of the total sample of nursing students was 111 (25) ( Table 3 ). This score fell within the “more positives than negatives” category ( Table 1 ), and is in line with scores in studies from Iran, 6 , 9 India, 13 Indonesia, 12 Malaysia, 10 Chile, 7 and the United Kingdom, 11 which ranged between 104 and 138. Such scores indicate an acceptable learning environment that may benefit from some improvement for the sake of quality assurance.…”

Influence of the perceived educational environment on future career planning among nursing students in Egypt

“…Despite differences in these studies, the mean score fell well within the range of 101~115, suggesting that perceptions of the environment were more positive than negative. However, the results of the current study are in contrast with those of other studies, which reported DREEM scores of 89/200 [29] and 92.6/200 [1].…”

Student nurses’ perceptions of their educational environment at a school of nursing in Western Cape province, South Africa: A cross-sectional study

“…The subscale means scores ranging between 60.7% and 100% of the maximum scores also indicated a positive perception of the educational environment. These results are consistent with the findings of the majority of the studies conducted around the world (Brown et al 2011; Hamid et al 2013; Imanipour et al 2015; Victor et al 2016).…”

Student perception of the educational environment in regular and bridging nursing programs in Saudi Arabia using the Dundee Ready Educational Environment Measure

“…Out of a total score of 200, the mean DREEM score of the total sample of nursing students was 111 (25) ( Table 3 ). This score fell within the “more positives than negatives” category ( Table 1 ), and is in line with scores in studies from Iran, 6 , 9 India, 13 Indonesia, 12 Malaysia, 10 Chile, 7 and the United Kingdom, 11 which ranged between 104 and 138. Such scores indicate an acceptable learning environment that may benefit from some improvement for the sake of quality assurance.…”

Influence of the perceived educational environment on future career planning among nursing students in Egypt

“…Despite differences in these studies, the mean score fell well within the range of 101~115, suggesting that perceptions of the environment were more positive than negative. However, the results of the current study are in contrast with those of other studies, which reported DREEM scores of 89/200 [29] and 92.6/200 [1].…”

Student nurses’ perceptions of their educational environment at a school of nursing in Western Cape province, South Africa: A cross-sectional study

“…The subscale means scores ranging between 60.7% and 100% of the maximum scores also indicated a positive perception of the educational environment. These results are consistent with the findings of the majority of the studies conducted around the world (Brown et al 2011; Hamid et al 2013; Imanipour et al 2015; Victor et al 2016).…”

Student perception of the educational environment in regular and bridging nursing programs in Saudi Arabia using the Dundee Ready Educational Environment Measure

“…Out of a total score of 200, the mean DREEM score of the total sample of nursing students was 111 (25) ( Table 3 ). This score fell within the “more positives than negatives” category ( Table 1 ), and is in line with scores in studies from Iran, 6 , 9 India, 13 Indonesia, 12 Malaysia, 10 Chile, 7 and the United Kingdom, 11 which ranged between 104 and 138. Such scores indicate an acceptable learning environment that may benefit from some improvement for the sake of quality assurance.…”