title: Tale of two cities: comparison of educational environment of two colleges (Jeddah and Rabigh) affiliated with one university.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate students' perception about the educational environment at two medical colleges.
  
  
  METHODS
  The cross-sectional study was conducted at King Abdulaziz University, Rabigh and Jeddah campuses, in Saudi Arabia, during the first semester of the year 2014 using Dundee Ready Education Environment Measure inventory. Data was collected from undergraduate medical students and analysed using SPSS 16.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 279 subjects in the study, 141(50.5%) belonged to the Rabigh campus, and 138(49.5%) to the Jeddah campus. Overall mean Dundee Ready Education Environment Measure inventory score was 124.90±20.66. The score for Jeddah was 131.38±21.37 and for Rabigh it was 118.56±17.85 (p=0.0001). The difference was also statistically significant in all domains of the inventory (p<0.05 each).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Students' perception of their educational environment was positive in both campuses, it was more positive in Jeddah compared to Rabigh.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, KSA.
authors.forename: Muhammad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Imran
authors.affiliation: Medical Education Unit and Department of Surgery, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, KSA.
authors.forename: Muhammad Shahid
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Shamim
authors.affiliation: Assessment Unit and Department of Biochemistry, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, KSA.
authors.forename: Mukhtiar
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Baig
authors.affiliation: Clinical Affairs, Department of Pediatrics, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, KSA.
authors.forename: Mohamed
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Farouq
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Consultant Medicine (Diabetes), King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, KSA.
authors.forename: Zohair Jamil
authors.initials: ZJ
authors.lastname: Gazzaz
authors.affiliation: 6th Year Student, Rabigh Medical College, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, KSA.
authors.forename: Osama Mohammed
authors.initials: OM
authors.lastname: Al-Mutairi
mesh_terms: D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004504:Education, Medical, Undergraduate; D005180:Faculty, Medical; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012529:Saudi Arabia; D012577:Schools, Medical; D012931:Social Environment; D013337:Students, Medical; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014495:Universities; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Educational environment, DREEM inventory, Medical students.