Does stressors and class attendance affect academic performance of medical students? A cross sectional study.

Dr Kamlesh Jha; Yogesh Kumar; Tribhuwan Kumar; Ramji Singh

Volume : VI, Issue : XI, November - 2017

Does stressors and class attendance affect academic performance of medical students? A cross sectional study.

Dr Kamlesh Jha, Yogesh Kumar, Tribhuwan Kumar, Ramji Singh

Abstract :

The academic performance of medical students has always been a source of concern to the academicians of medical fraternity. The study aims to find out the magnitude of the effect of class attendance on academic performance of medical students as well as the important stressors that may have an important and hidden impact over the academic performance of the medical students.

Material and method: 49 students of 1^st academic year of AIIMS Patna have been recruited after proper consent. The questionnaire based assessment has been done to assess their socio-academic behavior as well as peer dynamics. Academic performance have been assesses by their performance in the institutional examinations. Perceived stress score has been assessed by the standard PMSS questionnaire.

Result: Mean performance score was found to be 50.51 where as Mean stress score was 30. Self-reported mean hours devoted for self-studies varied from 0.5 hr. to 6 hr. with a mean of 3.09 + 1.41 hrs. 45 out of 49 students (91%). Class attendance has been found to be the most important factor affecting academic performance. The major source of stress among medical students is Time constraint, which also indirectly affect their sleep hours and sleep qualities. Besides, Competitive environment, less scope of self directed recreational activities etc are the source of stress for them.

Conclusion: Attendance is an important determinant of academic performance and time constrains are the major source of stress among medical students which need to be addressed properly for their better academic performances.