Perceptions of Saudi medical students on the qualities of effective teachers: A cross-sectional study

摘要

Objectives: To identify the attributes of an effective medical teacher that students value the most. Methods: A quantitative survey was performed in the College of Medicine, Qassim University, Buraidah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, between April and May 2012, using a pretested self-administered questionnaire distributed to all students. It captured their opinions on the qualities and attributes of good teachers. Each item was measured on a 5-point Likert scale. Data were entered and analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences Version 17. Results: Tree hundred and fifty-six students from all years responded. Te most important attributes from the students' perspectives were "respectful to students", "expert on the subject", "organizes good lectures", "understands/relates to students", and "good communication skills". On the other hand, "good sense of humor", "explains and shares personal experiences", "self-sacrificing", "gives good marks to all students", and "dresses up appropriately" were least valued by students. Attributes related to performance were valued more by students compared to personality attributes. Conclusion: Medical teachers and administrators should focus on improving the attributes identified most important to the students. Future studies could define the important attributes more explicitly.