Revealing the significant shortcomings in the learning environment at the three largest medical schools in Syria: what’s next?

BMC Medical Education

Research

Khaled Alhomsi¹  Ghaith Alfakhry²  M. Mhdy Abla³  Ahmad Naeem⁴  M. Bader AboHajar⁴  Iyad Ali⁵  Ebrahim Makhoul⁵  Nadeem Ahmed⁶  Abdul Fattah Mohandes⁷  Aisha Alfakhry⁷  Issam Jamous⁸ 

[1] Department of Biomedical Sciences, Al-Sham Private University, Damascus, Syria;Education Quality and Scientific Research Office, Al-Sham Private University, Damascus, Syria;Faculty of Dentistry, Damascus University, Damascus, Syria;Program of Medical Education, Syrian Virtual University, Damascus, Syria;Faculty of Dentistry, Damascus University, Damascus, Syria;Faculty of Medicine, Damascus University, Damascus, Syria;Faculty of Medicine, Tishreen University, Latakia, Syria;Cancer Research Center, Tishreen University, Latakia, Syria;Faculty of Medicine, Tishreen University, Latakia, Syria;Cancer Research Center, Tishreen University, Latakia, Syria;Department of Internal Medicine, Tishreen University Hospital, Latakia, Syria;Faculty of Medicine, University of Aleppo, Aleppo, Syria;Program of Medical Education, Syrian Virtual University, Damascus, Syria;Department of Prosthodontics, Faculty of Dentistry, Damascus University, Damascus, Syria;

关键词: Learning environment;    Medical education;    DREEM;    Syria;   

DOI  :  10.1186/s12909-022-03978-4

 received in 2022-09-22, accepted in 2022-12-21,  发布年份 2022

来源: Springer

【 摘 要 】

BackgroundMedical education in Syria still adopts a traditional, teacher-centered curriculum to this day. These elements imply the existence of issues in the learning environment (LE). This study aims to provide the first evaluation of the LE at the largest medical schools in Syria using the DREEM inventory.MethodsThe three largest medical schools in Syria are the ones at Damascus University (DU), University of Aleppo (AU), Tishreen University (TU). The Arabic version of the DREEM questionnaire was used. Students across all years of study except year 1 were approached. Both paper-based and electronic surveys were conducted.ResultsA total of 1774 questionnaire forms were completed (DU:941, AU:533, TU: 300). The overall DREEM score at DU, AU, and TU were 100.8 ± 28.7, 101.3 ± 31.7, and 97.8 ± 35.7 respectively with no significant difference (P = 0.254) between the three universities. DREEM subscales concerning Learning, Atmosphere, Academic Self-perception and Social Self-perception had a low score across all universities. Clinical-stage students reported significantly lower perception (P ≤ 0.001) of the LE in comparison to their pre-clinical counterparts across all subscales.ConclusionsThe findings of this study highlight the significant shortcomings of the medical LE in Syria. If not addressed properly, the academic, clinical, and professional competence of the healthcare workforce will continue to deteriorate. Moreover, the negative LE might be a predisposing factor for medical students’ exodus. The Syrian medical education system requires leaders who are willing to defy the status quo to achieve a true educational transformation.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© The Author(s) 2023

【 图 表 】

Fig. 5

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