Academic performance and its associated factors among medical undergraduates in Universiti Putra Malaysia

Ho, Sze Qi and Japri, Nur Nabilah and Nik Yusaimi, Nik Syahmi (2021) Academic performance and its associated factors among medical undergraduates in Universiti Putra Malaysia. [Project Paper] (Submitted)

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Abstract

Introduction: Medical course is known as one of the hardest courses due to its heavy workload and challenges. Nonetheless, as in any courses undertaken, students aim to pass the examinations and to be able to secure a career at the end of the academic years. Good academic performance is also important due to individual, family and societal expectations. Many factors influence a student’s academic performance. These include individual, socioeconomic, learning environment, and health conditions. Thus, this research was carried out to determine the factors which influence medical undergraduate students’ academic performance in Universiti Putra Malaysia. Objective: To determine the prevalence and factors associated with the academic performance of medical undergraduates in Universiti Putra Malaysia. Methodology: This was a cross sectional study which was conducted among medical undergraduate students who were currently in their academic Year Two and Three, 2020/2021 session, in the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia. The calculated sample size after taking into account 20% non-response was 214. The total number of students in Year Two and Year Three was 219. Therefore, universal sampling of all the students was conducted. The data was collected by a self-administered questionnaire via online Google form. The dependent variable was academic performance, which referred to the final examination result of the previous year and was divided into pass, and, fail and resit. The independent variables were divided into individual factors, socioeconomic factors, learning environment, and health conditions. The questionnaire consisted of four sections, namely Section A: Individual factors (age, gender, ethnicity, academic year, previous academic performance, 1 lifestyle); Section B: Socioeconomic factors (parental factors, housing facilities, and academic sponsorship); Section C: Learning environment (learning style using VARK [Visual, Auditory, Reading/writing, and Kinesthetic] instrument, study habits and preferred teaching method); and Section D: Health condition (physical health and mental health using DASS-21 instrument [Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale]). Data collection was carried out from 1 st to 15th March 2021. The total duration of the study was from 20th December 2020 to 31st May 2021. Data analysis was carried out using IBM Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 26.0. Data presentation included descriptive results in frequency, percentage, median (Interquartile Range (IQR)), and bivariate analysis results using chi-square. The significant value was set at p<0.05. Results:A total of 181 students participated in this study, with a response rate of 83.79%. The prevalence of passing the final examination was 94.5%. It was found that ethnicity (p=0.049), fast food/ processed food intake (p<0.001), mother’s education level (p=0.032), and study consistency (p=0.045) were significantly associated with academic performance of medical undergraduates in Universiti Putra Malaysia. Conclusion: Further studies on the modifiable factors such as fast food/ processed food intake and study consistency would be beneficial for development of intervention programmes to improve students’ academic achievement

Item Type:	Project Paper
Faculty:	Faculty of Medicine and Health Science
Depositing User:	Ms Norafizah Radzuan
Date Deposited:	04 Sep 2023 04:43
Last Modified:	04 Sep 2023 04:43
URI:	http://psaspb.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/917

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