A comparison between findings from the DREEM questionnaire and that from qualitative interviews.
BACKGROUND
The Rural Clinical School of Western Australia educates one quarter of all Western Australian medical students in their first clinical year in rural settings. As part of a comprehensive evaluation programme students give feedback regularly.


OBJECTIVE
To identify if the Dundee Ready Education Environment Measurement (DREEM) data could be used qualitatively and descriptively to determine specific problems from the data alone despite the small numbers at some sites.


METHODS
The DREEM questionnaire was administered on the same day as qualitative interviews were undertaken. The qualitative interviews were analysed thematically first and then compared with findings from DREEM.


RESULTS
Each major (student related) evaluation issue identified by the qualitative interviews was also identified by the DREEM questionnaire analysis.


CONCLUSIONS
When the DREEM study was undertaken in the Rural Clinical School of Western Australia there was no real expectation that it would provide sufficient information to identify issues picked up in the extensive and time consuming qualitative study. About half of the work undertaken by the qualitative evaluation, that of the experiences of the students at the site, was picked up by the DREEM questionnaire in a much shorter time frame and at less cost of staff time and resources.


CONCLUSIONS
The DREEM questionnaire can be used qualitatively to assess very specific issues relating to each of the subscales. These findings extend the use of DREEM from quantitative and statistically significant research to qualitative meaning-filled interpretations. The issues then need to be addressed sensitively.
Denz-Penhey
Harriet
H
Rural Clinical School, University of Western Australia, Crawley WA, Australia. Harriet.Penhey@uwa.edu.au
Murdoch
J Campbell
JC
D001315:Australia; D002982:Clinical Clerkship / Q000458:organization & administration*; D003258:Consumer Behavior; D005180:Faculty, Medical; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D010465:Perception; D015397:Program Evaluation / Q000379:methods*; D036301:Qualitative Research; D019035:Rural Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D012737:Sex Factors; D012931:Social Environment; D013337:Students, Medical; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires