Evaluation of Clinical Educational Environment at King Fahad Hospital of Dammam University Using the Postgraduate Hospital Education Environment Measure (PHEEM) Inventory

Background: Good educational environment has been shown to have a positive influence on learning outcome. Unpleasant educational environment that fosters low quality teaching, humiliation and weak clinical supervision is expected to hinder teaching and learning process. During bedside teaching, the environment of education is determined by numerous factors. The administration of the Postgraduate Hospital Education Environment Measure (PHEEM) questionnaire helps to identify weaknesses and strengths of the clinical educational environment for the purpose of remediating weak areas and enhancing the strong aspects.Objectives: To evaluate the educational environment of the King Fahad Hospital, Dammam University as perceived by medical residents in the three domains of PHEEM which are the perceptions of role autonomy, perceptions of teaching and perceptions of social support. To investigate the associations perception of educational environment with gender and stages of the residency program (R1-R4).Methods: This study used English version of the Postgraduate Hospital Educational Environment Measure (PHEEM) to measure the educational environment for all medical residents (N=226) at the King Fahad Hospital of Dammam University, Kingdome of Saudi Arabia. Identity of participants was kept anonymous to the researchers.Results: Approximately 137 (60.61%) residents filled the questionnaire. The residents perceived the overall educational environment as more positive than negative but with room for improvement (82.64/160). They perceived the role of autonomy as good and have more positive perception of one’s job (29.38/56). The residents’ perception of teaching showed that teachers are in need for some retraining (32.34/60). There was a statistical significant difference (p 0.001) in the perception of the environment as regarded by female and male. Male residents rated the environment as more positive than negative with potentials for improvement as indicated by an overall mean score of 88.7/160. Female residents perception indicated a plenty of problems (mean value of 77.14/160). There is no different perception of education environment between stages of the residency program.Conclusion: The medical residents of the King Fahad Hospital of Dammam University considered their educational environment as more positive than negative with potential aspects for improvement. Perception of educational environment are associated with gender but not with stages of the residency program.