Correlation Of Academic Performance Of Medical Students With Their Attendance

Abstract

Background: Attendance has always been a matter
of major concern to relevant authorities. Students on
the other hand often do not share the same view and
pay little heed to their falling attendance scores. This
study was performed to address this conflict in
views so that a common ground can be reached to
satisfy both parties in light of concrete evidence. The
objective of our study was to determine the
correlation of marks obtained in first professional
examinations (subject wise and also as an aggregate)
with attendance of students of Rawalpindi Medical
University.
Method: This correlation study was conducted at
Rawalpindi Medical College from August 2016 to
February 2017. 317 Students of second academic year
were included and their standardized percentages of
attendances for subjects; Physiology, Biochemistry
and Anatomy for both academic years 1 and 2 and
also collectively were recorded. Similarly, academic
results of each student for each subject were also
recorded. Pearson’s correlation test at 5% level of
significance was applied and linear regression
analysis was also performed.
Results: A highly statistically significant positive
correlation was observed between total attendance
and total marks (Pearson’s correlation coefficient r=
0.50, p-value=0.00) of students. The regression
analysis showed with R-square change 0.25, F=106.85
and beta 0.50 (p=0.00) that for every 1 % increase in
attendance there was increase of 0.5 marks. Subject
wise analysis also showed highly statistically
significant positive correlation with r=0.46, r=0.48,
r=0.38 for Anatomy, Physiology and Biochemistry
subjects, respectively (p-values 0.00). Positive
correlation also existed for total marks of each 1st
and 2nd part of 1st professional exams with their
respective yearly attendance.
Conclusion: The academic performance of medical
students, in terms of marks obtained is dependent
on their attendance not only as an aggregate of all
subjects but also in individual subjects of Anatomy,
Physiology and Biochemistry.
Key Words: Correlation, performance, medical,
students, academic, attendance, anatomy,
physiology, biochemistry