Assessment of learning environment among the first year Malaysian medical students

Objectives: The quality of the learning environment has been identified to be crucial for effective learning. Medical students' perceptions of learning environments provide a useful foundation for modifying and improving the quality of medical education. The aim of this study was to assess first-year medical students' perceptions of the learning environment in Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia [UKM]

Methods: The Dundee Ready Educational Environment Measure [DREEM] questionnaire was distributed to all 213 first-year medical students of UKM. The questionnaire contained 50 items scored on a 0-4 Likert scale [total scores could range from 0 to 200]. There were five subscales in the questionnaire, including students' perceptions about learning, teachers, atmosphere, academic self-perceptions, and social self-perceptions

Results: The total DREEM score recorded in this study was 135.6/200, which indicated that medical students' perceptions of the learning environment at UKM were more positive than negative. Students' perceptions of learning, students' perceptions of teachers, students' academic self-perceptions, students' perceptions of atmosphere and students' social self-perceptions scores were 33.04/48, 29.68/44, 22.16/32, 33.11/48 and 17.62/28, respectively. The total DREEM score was significantly higher among female [137.02/200] than male medical students [130.84/200] [p < 0.05]. There was no relationship between the students' perceptions of the learning environment and their academic performance [R = -0.06, p > 0.05]

Conclusion: The study showed that first-year medical students at UKM positively perceived their learning environment. Some low-scoring areas of the learning environment were also identified, which require improvement in the future

Immunological studies on avian E.coli vaccine with special reference to preparation and evaluation

Local prepared E.coli F11 fimbriae vaccine was prepared and compared with an imported one against chicken E.coli infection. The antibody response in sera of chickens vaccinated with the prepared E.coli F11 fimbriae vaccine [group 1] and the antibody response in sera of chickens vaccinated with oil imported E.coli vaccine [group 2] as determined by ELISA were similar. The antibody response in sera of chickens of groups 1 and 2 appeared from the first week post vaccination and reached the maximum at the third week post second vaccination. Challenge of vaccinated and control chickens were done at the third week post second vaccination. Chickens of groups 1 and 2 have decreased number of lesion scores than the control one. Also, chickens of groups 1 and 2 and challenged with heterologous. E.coli strains [08, 114, and 119] have increased number of lesion scores than that challenged with homologous E.coli strains [01, 02, and 078]. In addition, chickens of groups 1 and 2 have higher percent of protection [PIS: had 84, 70, 80, and 67% respectively] than the control one [PIS: 34%]. In conclusion, the prepared F11 fimbriae vaccine from a combination of 01, 02 and 078 E.coli strains was seemed to cover good range of protection and has been elicited a protective immune response against virulent E.coli challenge with homologous and hetorologous strains. Over all, strong correlation was found between antibody response in vaccinated groups and low lesion score that indicated a good protection