[Work environment assessment at a medical school].
BACKGROUND
The work environment of an organization has to do with a set of permanent qualities that are experienced by its members.


OBJECTIVE
To assess the work environment perception of faculty members of a Medical School in two different periods (2005 and 2007).


METHODS
A standardized survey was applied to faculty members and Department chairs of the academic units of our Medical School. The survey used the Likert scale from 1 to 5 and included 59 items, distributed in 8 factors. Additionally, there were two groups of statements, indicating the priorities for the School and for the academic departments.


RESULTS
In the study performed in year 2005, the survey was answered by a total of 399 faculty members (68%) and in year 2007, it was answered by 408 members (68%). The global climate perceptions were 66% and 68% in 2005 and 2007, respectively (ns). Among the dimensions evaluated, communications (p =0,62) and physical conditions (p =0,008) improved in the two years period.


CONCLUSIONS
The applied instrument was stable and useful to knowing the requirements of the faculty members and for improving the organizational climate.
Sánchez D
Ignacio
I
Subdirección Administrativa, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile. igsan@med.puc.cl
Airola G
Gregorio
G
Cayazzo A
Tatiana
T
Pedrals G
Nuria
N
Rodríguez M
Magdalena
M
Villarroel D
Luis
L
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003625:Data Collection; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012577:Schools, Medical / Q000592:standards*; D013337:Students, Medical / Q000523:psychology*; D013997:Time Factors; D017132:Workplace / Q000592:standards* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data