Study on Portuguese Medical Schools’ Learning Conditions: A National Analysis on Student Satisfaction, Student-Tutor Ratios and Number of Admissions

Authors

  • Pedro Grilo Diogo Grupo de Trabalho em Educação Médica. Associação Nacional de Estudantes de Medicina.
  • Afonso Moreira Grupo de Trabalho em Educação Médica. Associação Nacional de Estudantes de Medicina.
  • Ana Coimbra Grupo de Trabalho em Educação Médica. Associação Nacional de Estudantes de Medicina.
  • Ana Coelho Silva Grupo de Trabalho em Educação Médica. Associação Nacional de Estudantes de Medicina.
  • Artur Nixon Martins Grupo de Trabalho em Educação Médica. Associação Nacional de Estudantes de Medicina.
  • Carlos Mendonça Grupo de Trabalho em Educação Médica. Associação Nacional de Estudantes de Medicina.
  • Constança Carvalho Grupo de Trabalho em Educação Médica. Associação Nacional de Estudantes de Medicina.
  • Gonçalo Almeida Grupo de Trabalho em Educação Médica. Associação Nacional de Estudantes de Medicina.
  • Hugo Almeida Grupo de Trabalho em Educação Médica. Associação Nacional de Estudantes de Medicina.
  • Inês Garcia Moreira Grupo de Trabalho em Educação Médica. Associação Nacional de Estudantes de Medicina.
  • Marta Rodrigues Grupo de Trabalho em Educação Médica. Associação Nacional de Estudantes de Medicina.
  • Miguel Goulão Grupo de Trabalho em Educação Médica. Associação Nacional de Estudantes de Medicina.
  • Rafael Vasconcelos Grupo de Trabalho em Educação Médica. Associação Nacional de Estudantes de Medicina.
  • Rodrigo Vicente Grupo de Trabalho em Educação Médica. Associação Nacional de Estudantes de Medicina.
  • Sara Magano Grupo de Trabalho em Educação Médica. Associação Nacional de Estudantes de Medicina.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.20344/amp.6795

Keywords:

Medical Education, Medical Schools, Medical Students, Portugal, Self-Evaluation Programs.

Abstract

Introduction: Experiences of clinical and nonclinical learning environments, as well as assessment and study environments influence student satisfaction with their medical schools. Student-tutor ratios may impact on their perception of clinical learning environments. The aim of this study was to analyze medical students’ satisfaction and student-tutor ratios in relation to medical schools’ number of admissions.
Materials and Methods: A questionnaire was created, regarding learning, assessment and study environments in eight medical schools. 2037 students participated in this cross-sectional study. Cronbach’s alpha (internal consistency) was calculated and principal component analysis was conducted. Pearson correlations and multiple comparisons were analyzed.
Results: Assessment environments showed the highest satisfaction scores and clinical learning environments the lowest scores. The national student-tutor ratio in clinical rotations is 7.53; there are significant differences among schools. Institutions with higher number of admissions showed the lowest scores of overall student satisfaction (r = -0.756; p < 0.05), which decreased with progression in the medical course. High student-tutor ratios are strongly correlated with low levels of satisfaction regarding clinical learning environments (r = -0.826; p < 0.05).
Discussion: Clinical learning environments show the lowest satisfaction scores, which may expose the effect of high ratios in clinical rotations. Depending on the number of admissions, significant differences between medical schools were found. Quality of teaching-learning strategies and articulation with hospitals might also be important variables.
Conclusion: Medical schools with more admissions might be more susceptible to lower scores of student satisfaction. High student-tutor ratios in clinical rotations may reduce the quality of learning experiences and inhibit the acquisition of competences.

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Author Biography

Marta Rodrigues, Grupo de Trabalho em Educação Médica. Associação Nacional de Estudantes de Medicina.

None

Published

2016-05-31

How to Cite

1.
Grilo Diogo P, Moreira A, Coimbra A, Coelho Silva A, Nixon Martins A, Mendonça C, Carvalho C, Almeida G, Almeida H, Garcia Moreira I, Rodrigues M, Goulão M, Vasconcelos R, Vicente R, Magano S. Study on Portuguese Medical Schools’ Learning Conditions: A National Analysis on Student Satisfaction, Student-Tutor Ratios and Number of Admissions. Acta Med Port [Internet]. 2016 May 31 [cited 2024 Mar. 28];29(5):301-9. Available from: https://www.actamedicaportuguesa.com/revista/index.php/amp/article/view/6795

Issue

Section

AMP Student Original