Majallah-i Dānishgāh-i ̒Ulūm-i Pizishkī-i Bābul (Dec 2003)
A survey on dropout risk factors among medical students, Shiraz Medical University, 1999
Abstract
Background and Objective: Dropout of medical students is an important problem in medical education. If not controlled, it will result a low scientific knowledge of physicians in future years. The aim of this study was to determine the dropout risk factors among medical students of Shiraz University of Medical Sciences. Methods: This cross-sectional study was done on all students who entered the university in 1992-93. The students were classified into two groups according to their university grade average and the number of the conditional terms (Successful group, having an average of over 16 and no conditional term and unsuccessful group, having an average of under 14 and more than one conditional term). From all of 215 studied students, 82 were successful and 53 were unsuccessful. Findings: Grade average of high school, interest in medicine, motivation, and parents’ education level in successful group were higher than unsuccessful group. The interval between getting diploma and entering the university was more than one year in 66% of students is unsuccessful group. Whereas, 85% of the students in successful group were accepted in the university immediately after high school or with one year interval. Over 75.6% of the students in successful group lived in their homes and 71.7% of students in unsuccessful group lived in dormitory. The second job was seen in about 28.3% of the unsuccessful group and only 6% of the successful group. 50.1% of unsuccessful students were married as compared to 18.3% of the successful group. There was no significant relationship between success and presence in class. Conclusion: According to the findings, taking the factors leading to the success of medical students into accounts seems to be necessary. The problem of dropout will persist until a comprehensive and new curriculum is recommended.
