Table 2.
Student responses to the questionnaire evaluating the perceptions of the impact of the preparatory year programme at health professions education colleges of King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia (N = 633)*
| No. | Statement | n (%) | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Disagree | Neutral | Agree | ||
| University conduct | ||||
| 1 | The preparatory year made me self-confident | 204 (32.2) | 117 (18.5) | 312 (49.2) |
| 2 | The preparatory year reinforced my discipline | 217 (34.3) | 119 (18.8) | 297 (46.9) |
| 3 | The preparatory year reinforced my sense of responsibility | 157 (24.8) | 93 (14.7) | 383 (60.5) |
| 4 | The preparatory year helped me adapt to the university educational environment | 139 (22.0) | 87 (13.7) | 407 (64.3) |
| 5 | Preparatory year classes helped me select my major | 370 (58.5) | 103 (16.3) | 160 (25.3) |
| 6 | I feel that the preparatory year classes prepared me well for my major’s classes. | 362 (57.2) | 103 (16.3) | 168 (26.5) |
| Perception of faculty, teaching and assessment | ||||
| 7 | The preparatory year provided activities that developed my various personal skills (e.g., social, physical, cultural, creative) | 410 (64.8) | 110 (17.4) | 113 (17.9) |
| 8 | Communication with faculty was easy | 221 (34.9) | 155 (24.5) | 257 (40.6) |
| 9 | The faculty motivated me to develop my creative and innovative abilities | 357 (56.4) | 163 (25.8) | 113 (17.9) |
| 10 | The faculty showed attributes of professionalism (e.g. honesty, integrity, altruism, etc. | 285 (45.0) | 184 (29.1) | 164 (25.9) |
| 11 | My academic counsellor was helpful | 370 (58.5) | 149 (23.5) | 114 (18.3) |
| 12 | Interactions with my academic counsellor were adequate and fruitful | 365 (57.7) | 161 (25.4) | 107 (16.9) |
| 13 | Teaching was interactive rather than spoon-feeding | 338 (53.4) | 164 (25.9) | 131 (20.7) |
| 14 | Feedback on student assessment was helpful | 235 (37.1) | 208 (32.9) | 190 (30.0) |
| Administrative and regulatory matters | ||||
| 15 | Student support services (i.e. academic, social, psychological) were adequate | 235 (37.1) | 215 (34.0) | 183 (28.9) |
| 16 | Assessment tasks (e.g. tests, projects, assignments) were appropriate | 217 (34.3) | 127 (20.1) | 289 (45.7) |
| 17 | Introductory (awareness) sessions were planned with the newcomer students | 200 (31.6) | 144 (22.7) | 289 (45.7) |
| 18 | Students’ guidebook was informative and adequate | 149 (23.5) | 131 (20.7) | 353 (55.8) |
| 19 | Teaching timetables were set out appropriately | 197 (31.1) | 122 (19.3) | 314 (49.6) |
| 20 | Academic affairs services (e.g. withdrawal, course additions and deletions, postponing, excuses) were easily accessible | 185 (29.2) | 186 (29.4) | 262 (41.4) |
| Facilities and services | ||||
| 21 | The facilities (e.g. library, computers, data-shows, smart boards) were appropriate | 119 (18.8) | 112 (17.7) | 402 (63.5) |
| 22 | Places designated for student rest and sitting were appropriate | 219 (34.6) | 125 (19.8) | 289 (45.7) |
| 23 | Food purchasing areas were suitable for all students | 357 (56.4) | 100 (15.8) | 176 (27.8) |
| General perception after completing the preparatory year | ||||
| 24 | I have confidence in my ability to research information | 149 (23.5) | 156 (24.6) | 328 (51.8) |
| 25 | My thinking skills (e.g. interpretation, analysis, inference, explanation) have improved | 193 (30.5) | 145 (22.9) | 295 (46.6) |
| 26 | My computer skills became more sophisticated | 208 (32.9) | 133 (21.0) | 292 (46.1) |
| 27 | My research skills became more sophisticated | 241 (38.1) | 178 (28.1) | 214 (33.8) |
| 28 | My scientific writing skills became more sophisticated | 254 (40.1) | 157 (24.8) | 222 (35.1) |
| 29 | I can access and use learning resources (e.g. library and internet resources) | 172 (27.2) | 122 (19.3) | 339 (53.6) |
| 30 | My skills in applying knowledge have improved | 200 (31.6) | 178 (28.1) | 255 (40.3) |
*
The 5-point scale was collapsed to 3 points for easy interpretation of results and increasing cell sample size. Both “Agree” and “Strongly Agree” were considered as “Agree” while both “Disagree” and “Strongly Disagree” were considered as “Disagree”.