Validation of Urdu Translation of DREEM Inventory in a Medical College of Lahore

Background and Objective: Measurement of learning environment is a big challenge in medical education due to complex nature of educational environment such as interaction between students and teachers, learning venue, use of multimedia and other modalities. Introduced in 1997, Dundee Ready Educational Environment Measure (DREEM) is claimed to be a cultural free tool to measure educational environment at undergraduate level. DREEM has been translated and validated in different languages but no study has reported DREEM translation and validation in Urdu Language. This study was carried out to determine validity of Urdu translation of DREEM inventory at an undergraduate medical college in Lahore. Methods: This cross-sectional study was carried out at University of Health Sciences Lahore and Fatima Jinnah Medical College Lahore over 2 years (2015-2016) after approval by Institutional Review Board of University of Health Sciences Lahore. Data was collected from 325 undergraduate students using survey method. Urdu translation of DREEM was done by two experts using computer program in page Urdu 2013. Firstly, DREEM questionnaire in English was filled by the participant students. After two weeks, DREEM questionnaire in Urdu was filled by the same students. The DREEM scores in English and Urdu were comparedby applying paired t-test. Results: There is no significant difference (P > 0.05) between the DREEM scores in English and Urdu. Thereliability index between 0.7-0.9 was recorded. Conclusion: DREEM Inventory has the same validity in Urdu at undergraduate level as in English.