title: Changes in Bachelor of Oral Health students' perceptions of their dental education environment.
abstract: This study used the Dundee Ready Educational Environment Measure (DREEM) to examine how a cohort of Bachelor of Oral Health (BOH) students at the University of Otago's Faculty of Dentistry perceived their educational environment. Four DREEM questionnaires were administered over the three-year programme; a modified version at the beginning of the first year asked students what they expected their year would be like, while questionnaires at the end of each subsequent year surveyed students on their actual experiences within the BOH programme. All four questionnaires were completed by 78% of students (N=31). Overall, the students' perceptions of their educational environment were more positive than negative, and they identified both strengths and weaknesses in the BOH programme. Both positive and negative shifts occurred between the 'Expected' and 'Actual' individual DREEM outcomes. The difference between students' 'Expected' and 'Actual' DREEM responses indicates, in some areas, that BOH students expected more from their educational environment than what they actually experienced. The changes in BOH students' perception of their educational environment over the three years can be explained, in part, by changes in the curriculum from year to year.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Rehabilitation Sir John Walsh Research Institute, Faculty of Dentistry, The University of Otago. lyndie.fosterpage@otago.ac.nz
authors.forename: Page L A
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Foster
authors.affiliation: Sir John Walsh Research Institute, Faculty of Dentistry, The University of Otago
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.affiliation: College of Education, The University of Otago.
authors.forename: V R
authors.initials: VR
authors.lastname: Anderson
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Sciences, Sir John Walsh Research Institute, Faculty of Dentistry, The University of Otago.
authors.forename: W M
authors.initials: WM
authors.lastname: Thomson
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Sciences, Sir John Walsh Research Institute, Faculty of Dentistry, The University of Otago.
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Meldrum
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Sciences, Sir John Walsh Research Institute, Faculty of Dentistry, The University of Otago.
authors.forename: S M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Moffat
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003479:Curriculum; D003727:Dental Auxiliaries / Q000193:education* / Q000523:psychology; D003756:Dental Hygienists / Q000193:education / Q000523:psychology; D005178:Faculty; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D007858:Learning; D008297:Male; D009520:New Zealand; D012649:Self Concept; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013663:Teaching / Q000379:methods; D055815:Young Adult