Anesthesia students' perception of the educational environment and academic achievement at Debre Tabor University and University of Gondar, Ethiopia: a comparative cross-sectional study.

Background: Excellence in Anesthesia education has been advocated to meet the current and future needs of the society. Educational environment plays significant role in determining students' learning and academic achievement. This study assessed the perception of Anesthesia students on their educational environment and it association with their academic achievement at Debre Tabor University and University of Gondar.

Methods: A comparative cross-sectional study design was employed on 3 and 4 year students. Dundee Ready Educational Environment Measure (DREEM) was used to assess students' perception on their educational environment. Perceived performance, Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) and 100 MCQ items were used to assess the academic achievement of the students. An independent t-test was used to assess the differences in the perception of educational environment and academic achievements. Bivariate and multivariable linear regressions were fitted to assess the relationship between perception on educational environment and academic achievement. A P-value of less than 0.05 was used to declare the statistical significance.

Result: A total of 123 students (91 from University of Gondar and 32 from Debre Tabor University) were participated on this study. The study showed no statistically significant differences between the groups on the perception of students on the educational environment on DREEM total and subscale scores, and academic achievements. However, there were statistically significant differences in some items of the educational environment measures. On multivariable linear regression; entrance exam result, students' perception of teachers, students' academic self -perception and students' social self-perception showed positive correlation with students' academic achievement (ß = 0.003 & P = 0.04, ß = 0.009 & P = 0.9, ß = 0.06 & P = 0.42, ß = 0.06 & P = 0.39, ß = 0.14 & P = 0.015 and ß = 0.13 & P = 0.023) respectively.

Conclusion: The perception of students on the educational environment was found to be more positive and there was no statistically significant differences in total and domains of DREEM scores and academic achievement of students between the two institutions. Entrance exam result and more positive perception of the educational environment were positively associated with academic achievement of students.