CLASS ATTENDANCE AS A MARKER OF PERFORMANCE IN ANNUAL EXAMS FOR PRE-CLINICAL MEDICAL STUDENTS

Abstract

Abstract Objective: To assess the importance of class atten-dance of preclinical medical students by comparing it with their results in annual university examination. Study Design: A cross sectional analytical study. Methodology: All (92) preclinical students of 2nd year MBBS passing the First Professional Part-II in first attempt were included in the study. Actual atten-dance in Physiology classes of each student during the 2 nd year MBBS was entered as percentage and compa-red with percentage total cumulative marks of same students in their 1 st professional Part - II examination conducted by the University. The same comparison was also made using the admission attendance (where-in leave period was excluded from attendance calculat-ion) instead of Actual attendance. Data maintained by Physiology Department was entered and analysed by Yaqoob N. 1 Assistant Professor, Department of Physiology Sargodha Medical College, Sargodha Bhatti S.A. 2 Assistant Professor, Department of Pharmacology Sargodha Medical College, Sargodha Zulqernain A. 3 Assistant Professor, Department of Behavioural Sciences Sargodha Medical College, Sargodha SPSS 21. Descriptive statistics in the form of numbers and percentages were used and further analyzed using Pearson Correlation, Linear regression and T Test. The p value of ≤ 0.05 was considered to be significant. Results: Out of total 92 students 73 (79.3%) were females and 19 (20.7%) males. All students were with-in the age group of 19 - 24 years, mean age being 21.6 years. Mean Actual attendance in Physiology was 91.67 (Range = 72 - 100, Median = 93.25). Mean admission attendance in Physiology was 93.17 (Ran-ge = 78 - 100, Median = 94.11). Percentage marks in annual exam had a mean of 70.83 (Range = 57 - 84, Median = 70.92). Actual class attendance in percen-tage was directly assessed against the percentage mar-ks obtained in annual exam for each student. The class attendance in Physiology was statistically significantly related to the overall marks in the final exam (p = 0.01). Difference was noted amongst different genders in class attendance (Mean 87.43 for Males Vs 92.77 for Females) but not in the annual exam marks (Mean 70.80 for Males Vs 70.96 for Females). Conclusion: In preclinical years in a medical college regular class attendance has statistically significant but moderate relationship with the academic performance in professional examination. Male students show a ten-dency to improve their performance in the annual exa-mination as compared to female students despite hav-ing a lower attendance. Key words: Class Attendance, Physiology, Internal assessment, Professional examination.