Instruments for Measuring Medical Education Environments and Scope of These Applications

Background & Objective: Educational environment, with many components and interactions between inputs, processes and outcomes, has been considered as an integral part of the educational program. To assess these environments, several instruments have been used around the world. Due to differences in medical environments, using appropriate tools for specific environment, is essential and applying wrong tools may lead to confusion in the interpretation of results. The purpose of this paper was to introduce medical environments measurement tools and scope of these applications. Methods: We searched databases for qualitative and quantitative instruments used to measure medical education environments in the medical and clinical settings. Results: ۸ instruments for measuring medical education environment at undergraduate and ۱۱ instruments at postgraduate in five scopes identified and introduced. Conclusion: Knowing about measuring instruments and their proper use in assessment of medical education environments are of the key aspects in various stages of evaluation, modification, improvement, and development of educational programs.

Keywords:

Medical educational environment , Medical learning environment , Medical educational climate , Measuring medical education environment