Class Attendance of Pharmacology Students of Rehman Medical College as a Determinant of Academic Performance

Abstract

Introduction: Class attendance is traditionally taken as a very important factor to earn better academic grades. However, with the emphasis on student-centered learning and due to advancement in information technology, its role must be reassessed. Objective: To correlate class attendance of Pharmacology students of Rehman Medical College with their academic performance. Materials & Methods: An institution-based cross-sectional correlational study was conducted in the Department of Pharmacology, Rehman Medical College, Peshawar, from May to August 2017 on students of academic session 2014-15. Academic performance of students in different internal examinations was evaluated and correlated with their attendance. Students were divided into two groups; Group I, with 75% or more class attendance and Group II, with less than 75% attendance. Data were analyzed by SPSS 20 for descriptive statistics; group comparisons were done using Chi Square Test for frequencies and Student’s T test for Means and SD; correlation was determined by Pearson’s Correlation r. In all cases, a p≤0.05 denoted significance. Results: Group I students performed better academically than Group II students (p=0.007). However, class attendance was not the only factor responsible for the good academic performance of those students who scored in higher academic categories (marks more than 75%). Conclusion: Class attendance has a positive impact on students’ academic performance, even in this technological age. However, other factors may affect academic performance of high-scoring students. Keywords: