EDUCATIONAL ENVIRONMENT;

MEDICAL STUDENTS’ PERCEPTIONS OF THE EDUCATIONAL ENVIRONMENT IN THE SURGICAL THEATER

Abstract

Objectives: To measure the perceptions of medical students on the learning
environment in surgical theater of FMH College of Medicine and Dentistry, Lahore, Pakistan.
Study Design: Teaching hospital-based cross-sectional study. Setting: Fatima Memorial
Hospital College of Medicine and Dentistry, Lahore, Pakistan. Period: January 2017 to June
2017. Methods: The Mini-Surgical Theater Educational Environment Measure (mini-STEEM)
(thirteen items from the STEEM inventory) was used to measure perceptions of medical
students on the learning environment in surgical theater. Mini-STEEM was administered to
medical students of fourth and final year during their rotation in surgical theater at FMH College
of Medicine and Dentistry. Social Sciences (SPSS) Version 20 was used for non-parametric
statistical analysis. Results: Questionnaire was filled by all 134 students, with a response rate of
100%. The mini-STEEM was shown to be a reliable tool to measure overall learning environment
in the surgical theater of FMH College of Medicine and Dentistry. The overall mini-STEEM mean
score was 37.66 which was below the midpoint score (39). Students’ ratings were low for two
subscales, namely: ‘Atmosphere’ and ‘Operating experience. Discrimination subscale showed
high ratings as no significant differences of perceptions were found between male and female
participants. Conclusion: The medical undergraduates perceived the educational environment
within the surgical theater of FMH College of Medicine and Dentistry below satisfactory. Results
of the study implied that the environment required multiple measures for improvement in the
surgical theater to promote surgical education in undergraduate medical students.