Authors : Sangeeta M, Varalakshmi K.L
DOI : 10.18231/2394-2126.2019.0009
Volume : 6
Issue : 1
Year : 2019
Page No : 38-40
Introduction: Student attendance is considered as an important factor contributing to academic performance in Medical education. This becomes all the more relevant in the context of Competency based medical education where clinical contact and skills are necessary to develop competence. Student’s absenteeism is a continuous problem in medical education despite mandatory attendance policies introduced by the universities. Results of previous studies correlating attendance with academic achievement are conflicting.
Objective of the Study: To estimate the strength of association between attendance percentage and Internal marks in Anatomy.
Material and Methods: The study was conducted in the Dept of Anatomy of MVJ Medical College and Research Hospital, Bangalore.150 students of 2016-17 Batch of First year MBBS who appeared in all the three internal assessments of both theory and practicals were included for this study.
Study Design: Retrospective observational study.
Theory and practical marks of the three internal assessments conducted for the batch of 2016-17 Phase I MBBS was retrieved. Data of the attendance percentage of both theory and practicals of the same students were also retrieved. Three groups were created based on attendance percentage of both theory and practicals. Group I with less than 50% attendance, group II between 50% and 75% attendance and group III with more than and equal to 75%. Mean marks of the students of the three groups were compared with their attendance percentage. Karl Pearson correlation coefficient was used to test the strength of association between attendance percentage and internal marks.
Results: It was observed that as the attendance percentage increased there was a significant increase in the mean internal marks in both theory and practicals. There was a positive correlation between attendance percentage and Internal marks in both theory and practicals which was significant.
Conclusion: The findings of this study support anecdotal evidence that there is a significant positive correlation between class attendance and academic achievement.
Keywords: Theory, Practical, Internal assessments, Attendance, Percentage, Correlation, Association.