Validation of the course experience questionnaire for an online medical education program from Peru

Introduction: The growing number of online medical education programs demands rigorous evaluation. Previous studies have emphasized the importance of student perception in the effectiveness of these programs. Therefore, we aimed to adapt and validate the Course Experience Questionnaire (CEQ) for use in online medical education programs in Peru. Material and methods: An adaptation and validation study of the CEQ was conducted at a preparatory academy for the national medical examination in Peru. The questionnaire items were modified to suit our context and administered to 127 participants anonymously. Exploratory Factor Analysis with oblique rotation and reliability calculations with Cronbach's and McDonald's coefficients were performed. Then, the correlation of the CEQ and its domains with satisfaction and the program's impact was assessed. Results: 83 participants responded, mainly sixth-year medical students. The analysis showed the suitability of the CEQ for factor analysis, with three factors identified that explained 59% of the total variance. The CEQ's reliability indices were high, indicating its consistency. The three domains identified were Adequate Teaching, Support, and Negative Program Experiences. Significant positive correlations were found between the total CEQ score, satisfaction measures, and perception of the program's impact. Conclusion: The adapted CEQ showed evidence of validity for evaluating online medical education programs in Peru.