Opening Pandora’s Box: What is the Content of the Instruments Measuring the Learning Environment in Medicine?

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.14482/sun.37.3.616.8581

Keywords:

medical education, ndergraduates, learning environments, content validity.

Abstract

Introduction/aim: The measurement of the learning environment in medicine is fundamental to assess the quality of medical education. Multiple instruments are available for this purpose, but their content, theoretical foundations and practical implications variate. Our aim is to synthesize the content validity and scope of these instruments.

Methods: We conducted a systematic review of original studies designed to measure the learning environment in medicine, published in English and Spanish languages, from 1990 to 2018. We search for studies in Pubmed, ERIC, British Nursing Index, Google Scholar,
Science Direct, Cochrane, CINALH and Latindex. We analyzed the main domains, theoretical foundations and methods to determine the content validity of each instrument.
Results: Thirty-eight studies evaluating twelve instruments (one available in Spanish) were included. Two instruments were specific for the surgical environment and one for the
community. Only three instruments were supported by an educational theory. The domains most frequently evaluated were the atmosphere, social perception and academic perception
of learning. The content validity was established through expert panels or Delphi method in 83,3 % of the instruments.
Conclusions: There are several instruments to evaluate a complex construct such as the learning environment in medicine. In general, these instruments have content validity supported by multiple sources and methodologies and they can be used by medical educators to assess the learning environment comprehensively.

Author Biographies

Mariagracia Martinez Negretti, Universidad de La Sabana, Chía Colombia

Médico, Universidad de la Sabana, Chía (Colombia). Departamento de Cirugía, Universidad
de la Sabana, Chía (Colombia).

Luis Carlos Dominguez Torres, Universidad de La Sabana

Médico Universidad Javeriana, Bogotá (Colombia). Cirujano General Universidad
Javeriana. Magíster en Educación para Profesiones de la Salud, Universidad de
Keele, Londres (Reino Unido). Ph.D. Universidad de Maastricht. Departamento
de cirugía, Universidad de la Sabana, Chía (Colombia).

Jorge Alberto Restrepo Escobar, Universidad de La Sabana. Chía, Colombia

Médico Universidad Industrial de Santander, Bucaramanga Colombia. Neurólogo
Universidad Militar Nueva Granada, Bogotá (Colombia). Magíster en Educación
para Profesiones de la Salud, Instituto Universitario del Hospital Italiano de
Buenos Aires, Argentina. Departamento de Educación Médica, Universidad de
la Sabana, Chía (Colombia).

Published

2022-01-19

How to Cite

Martinez Negretti, M., Dominguez Torres, L. C., & Restrepo Escobar, J. A. (2022). Opening Pandora’s Box: What is the Content of the Instruments Measuring the Learning Environment in Medicine?. Salud Uninorte, 37(3), 757–780. https://doi.org/10.14482/sun.37.3.616.8581