Perception of students regarding educational environment in a medical college in eastern region of India.

Learning environment in any medical college is found to be important in determining student's academic success. The study was undertaken to know and compare the perceptions of educational environment of undergraduate and postgraduate medical students, find out the problem areas and their remedies at Calcutta National Medical College and Hospital, Kolkata. In the present study, Dundee Ready Education Environment Measure (DREEM) questionnaire was administered to undergraduate (n = 278) and postgraduate (n = 43) student and the scores were compared using a non-parametric test. Among the two groups, the undergraduate students were found to be more satisfied with the learning environment at Calcutta National Medical College and Hospital (as indicated by their higher DREEM score) compared to the postgraduate students. There was insignificant difference in perception among male and female students. The study revealed that both groups of students perceived the learning environment positively. Nevertheless, the study also reflected problematic areas of learning environment in this medical college which generates an idea of adopting some remedial measures in the form of small group learning and problem based learning where there is enough scope of student-teacher interaction and practical exposure.