Satisfaction and readiness for professional activity of students of the Institute of Osteopathy (Saint-Petersburg): a study using the DREEM questionnaire

Abstract

   Introduction. The educational program is an important factor of the training quality of a future specialist in the modern system of medical personnel training. The most important indicator of the educational program quality is the educational environment that influences the formation of competencies and the students′ success. Measurements of the educational environment with the help of developed and validated tools make it possible to change it in many ways, which will eventually improve the quality of medical education. To date, the rapid educational environment assessment system developed at the University of Dundee (Dundee Ready Education Environment Measure, DREEM questionnaire) is considered as a valid and reliable tool that is universally accepted for measuring the medical educational environment, assessing the strengths and weaknesses of the educational environment according to the educational program under study and determining the direction of improving the educational environment.   The aim of the study is to evaluate the perception of the educational environment by students of the Institute of Osteopathy (Saint-Petersburg) using the DREEM questionnaire.   Materials and methods. The study involved 80 students of the Institute of Osteopathy (Saint-Petersburg), studying in residency or professional retraining programs. Participants were surveyed using the DREEM questionnaire, consisting of 50 closed-ended statements, which are grouped into 5 subcategories. I. Students′ perception of the learning process (12 statements). II. Students′ perception of the role of lecturers in the educational process (11 statements). III. Students′ perceptions of their own academic performance (8 statements). IV. Students′ perceptions of the educational atmosphere (12 statements). V. Social self-perception and interaction with the environment (7 statements). Each of the 50 statements is rated on a 5-point scale: «Strongly agree» (4), «Agree» (3), «Not sure» (2), «Disagree» (1) and «Strongly disagree» (0). Satisfaction analysis was also carried out for individual statements.   Results. The analysis of information obtained using the DREEM questionnaire showed that the educational environment created at the Institute of Osteopathy (Saint-Petersburg) was rated by students as ideal — 165,2 points; doctors studying in the residency educational program rate the educational environment statistically significantly (p < 0,05) higher than those studying in the professional retraining program. Among the students studying in a residency program, the indicators of confidence in their readiness for professional activity are at a fairly high level — 3,5–3,7 points, while among the students studying in a professional training program, the indicators of confidence in their readiness for professional activity are at the level of 2–3,3 points. There are some indicators of the educational environment that require improvement.   Conclusion. A detailed study of the level of the educational environment perception among students of the Institute of Osteopathy (Saint-Petersburg), studying in various educational programs, made it possible to identify the most problematic areas in the educational process implemented at the Institute, which makes it possible to develop proposals for improving the current educational environment. The issues of organizing social support for students and building confidence in their preparedness for practical activities deserve the greatest attention. It is also recommended to regularly conduct a study of the educational environment satisfaction among students of the Institute of Osteopathy to assess the dynamics of the indicators.