Gauging the learning environment at Damascus University Pharmacy School in Syria using the DREEM questionnaire: A cross-sectional study

Abstract

Introduction: This study was undertaken to provide the first record of evaluation of the educational environment of the Bachelor of Pharmacy program at Damascus University (DU), Syria using the internationally adopted Dundee Ready Education Environment Measure (DREEM) tool and compare it with other pharmacy schools around the world.   Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted at DU Pharmacy School in 2022. The validated DREEM 50-item inventory was added to Google Forms and used to collect data electronically. Data was collected during the second term between April 2022 and June 2022. Students from all years were included.   Results: A total of 269 students completed the questionnaire. The Cronbach’s alpha of the DREEM questionnaire was 0.94. The total DREEM score was 89.8±32.1/200. DU Pharmacy School scored significantly less on the total DREEM score than its other counterparts around the world with a large effect size (d>0.80). All subscales scored below 50% and the lowest scoring subscales were students’ perception of learning (SPL=41.8%) and students’ perception of the social environment (SSP=42.5%).   Conclusions: This study provides the first assessment of the learning environment at DU Pharmacy School. The findings implied that the educational environment is in need of major improvement, especially in areas related to teaching and learning practices and the general social environment; future research should focus on designing interventions that could effectively address these potential areas of improvement.