title: Students' and teachers' perceptions of the clinical learning environment in years 4 and 5 at the University of Auckland.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  As the undergraduate medical curriculum is developed in response to an increasing number of students across multiple teaching sites, it is timely to review the clinical learning environment of medical students in the first two clinical years.
  
  
  METHODS
  University of Auckland students in year 4 and 5 completed the Dundee Ready Educational Environment Measure (DREEM). Clinical Teachers completed a shorter questionnaire on their perceptions of the clinical learning environment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The students perceive their clinical learning environment positively and their perceptions compare favourably with similar studies internationally. The DREEM is reliable for and practical to use in the New Zealand undergraduate clinical learning environment. Learning site, year of study, clinical team, gender, age, or ethnicity did not influence students' perceptions of their learning environment. Clinical teachers view their teaching positively but there seem to be concerns over the amount of time they have available for teaching.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Students are concerned about the amount of knowledge they need to acquire and the availability of support for students under stress as they enter and during the clinical years. Clinical teachers are concerned about the amount of time they have available for teaching.
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatrics: Child and Youth Health, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Auckland, Park Road, Auckland 1023, New Zealand. ralphp@adhb.govt.nz
authors.forename: Ralph
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Pinnock
authors.forename: Boaz
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Shulruf
authors.forename: Susan J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Hawken
authors.forename: Marcus A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Henning
authors.forename: Rhys
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Jones
mesh_terms: D002982:Clinical Clerkship; D004504:Education, Medical, Undergraduate; D005180:Faculty, Medical; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007858:Learning; D008297:Male; D009520:New Zealand; D012577:Schools, Medical; D012944:Social Support; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000453:epidemiology; D013337:Students, Medical; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors; D055815:Young Adult