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. 2024 Oct 9;24(1):1113.
doi: 10.1186/s12909-024-06114-6.

Satisfaction of medical and health science students with their clinical learning environment and its determinant factors at Debre Markos University, northwest Ethiopia

Temesgen Ayenew  1 , Adane Fentie Tadesse  2 , Tsinunat Fikru  3 , Mihretie Gedfew  4 , Haile Amha  4 , Mamaru Getie Fetene  5 , Afework Edmealem  4 , Addisu Getie  4 , Setarg Ayenew Birhanie  4 , Mengistu Abebe Messelu  4
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Satisfaction of medical and health science students with their clinical learning environment and its determinant factors at Debre Markos University, northwest Ethiopia

Temesgen Ayenew et al. BMC Med Educ. .

Abstract

Background: Understanding the student's perspective of their clinical learning environment (CLE) might assist to discover solutions to improve the learning process and increase engagement. However, there is a lack of information on this issue, particularly in Ethiopia. The purpose of this study was to assess the satisfaction of undergraduate medical and health science students with their clinical learning environment, as well as to identify the factors that affect it.

Methods: Institutional-based cross-sectional study was conducted using a self-administered questionnaire among 412 medical and health science students from Debre Markos University in 2023 through a simple random sampling technique. Mean, median, frequencies, and percentages were used to describe the data. A multivariate logistic regression model was fitted to test the association of dependent and independent variables. The Hosmer-Lemeshow goodness-of-fit test was used to check the fitness of the model. Variables with a p-value < 0.05 with a 95% confidence interval were considered statistically significant.

Results: The questionnaire was completed by 394 individuals in total, generating a response rate of 95.63%. Approximately half (49.7%) of the participants were satisfied with their CLE. Age (AOR = 1.12; 95%CI = 1.02, 1.22), university positive perceptions (AOR = 1.60; 95%CI = 1.04, 2.43) and curriculum positive perception (AOR = 2.70; 95%CI = 1.73, 4.10) were all positively associated with CLE satisfaction.

Conclusion: In this study, approximately half of the respondents were satisfied with their CLE. Age, positive perceptions of the university and positive perceptions of the curriculum were all positively associated with CLE satisfaction. The university and clinical facilitators should work together to improve infrastructure, and the facilities at the university, build dormitories at the clinical placement sites, as well as the curriculum review should involve students to increase their academic performance, self-esteem, and satisfaction with CLE.

Keywords: Associated factors; Ethiopia; Medical and health science students; Satisfaction with clinical learning environment.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no competing interests.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
A flow diagram showing the sampling technique for a study of satisfaction of medical and health science students with their clinical learning environment and its determinant factors at Debre Markos University, northwest Ethiopia, 2023
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