ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT AND ITS ASSOCIATED FACTORS AMONG THE FIRST AND SECOND YEAR MEDICAL STUDENTS OF THE COURSE 2012-2018 AT HUE UNIVERSITY OF MEDICINE AND PHARMACY

Abstract

Objectives: To investigate the 1st and 2nd year academic achievement (AA) and its associated factors among the first and second years medical students of the course 2012-2018 at Hue University of Medicine and Pharmacy (Hue UMP). Methods: Using a cross-sectional study. Four hundred and eighty students were interviewed using the self-developed questionnaire to track the students’ 1st and 2nd year AA, demographics, daily time use for learning and activities, and their appraisal about the curriculum. Data were analysized using STATA 10.0 and applying multiple linear regression analysis. Results: The mean of students’ GPA of the 1st year (6.95±0.90) was statistically higher than that of the 2nd year (6.83±0.92). The mean of activity achievement of the 1st year (81.40±4.10) was significantly lower than that of the 2nd year (83.96±4.13). Factors associated with 1st year AA included gender, 1st year activity achievement, National examination score upon admission into Hue UMP, National high school graduation examination result, self-study time, disappointment from the 1st year and disorientation after the 1st year. Factors associated with the 2nd year AA were age, 1st year AA, 2nd year activity achievement, time spent for non-academic internet use, time spent for participating in classroom management. Conclusion: Further consultation for students on learning methods and effective strategies for coping withadverse learning environment should be extended to improve students’ academic achievement. Lecturers should be more mindful of subject content and teaching methods to optimizeincrease students’ academic achievement. Key words: academic achievement, associated factors, medical students.