Medical students with science A levels less likely to drop out
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《英国医生杂志》
Medical students who have a parent who is a doctor, who live on rather than off campus, or who did well in science subjects at A level were less likely to drop out during their first year at university, a new study shows.
The study抯 authors, from the University of Warwick, looked at data on 51 810 first year students at 21 medical schools between 1980 and 1992 (Medical Education 2004;38:492-503).
Students who scored high grades in biology, chemistry, or physics were less likely to drop out of medical school than other students, while those who scored well in other subjects were more likely to transfer out of medicine.
Men were more likely to quit than women, with men 8% more likely to drop out than women, but social class and school background had little effect on the dropout rate. The authors also found significant differences between medical schools in the probability of dropping out in the first year.
Across the 13 intakes the average dropout rate was 3.8%, but the authors found that a range of factors could influence the rate. Students living off campus had a dropout rate that was 40% higher than students living on campus, a finding that may point to the importance of social integration. "The nature of medical students?accommodation is a significant influence on the probability of progression," say the authors.
More than one in seven medical students had a parent who was a medical doctor, and these students were 20% less likely to drop out. That, say the authors, may be a result of a greater commitment or of better preparation before starting the course.
Age may play a part too. Compared with students aged 19 years and under, those aged 21 years were less likely to drop out.
There were also differences between medical schools. "Our results suggest that there were significant differences in the probability of first year dropout across university medical schools in the UK, even after controlling for observable differences in student characteristics."
But they say they are cautious about the idea of league tables that are based on dropout rates, because the rankings of the schools varied over time.
The authors say that any relaxing of traditional entry standards should be accompanied by additional support for students. "Our results imply that any policy of reducing or relaxing the entry requirements for medical school entrants risks raising the dropout rate from medical degree programmes," they say.(Abergavenny Roger Dobson)
The study抯 authors, from the University of Warwick, looked at data on 51 810 first year students at 21 medical schools between 1980 and 1992 (Medical Education 2004;38:492-503).
Students who scored high grades in biology, chemistry, or physics were less likely to drop out of medical school than other students, while those who scored well in other subjects were more likely to transfer out of medicine.
Men were more likely to quit than women, with men 8% more likely to drop out than women, but social class and school background had little effect on the dropout rate. The authors also found significant differences between medical schools in the probability of dropping out in the first year.
Across the 13 intakes the average dropout rate was 3.8%, but the authors found that a range of factors could influence the rate. Students living off campus had a dropout rate that was 40% higher than students living on campus, a finding that may point to the importance of social integration. "The nature of medical students?accommodation is a significant influence on the probability of progression," say the authors.
More than one in seven medical students had a parent who was a medical doctor, and these students were 20% less likely to drop out. That, say the authors, may be a result of a greater commitment or of better preparation before starting the course.
Age may play a part too. Compared with students aged 19 years and under, those aged 21 years were less likely to drop out.
There were also differences between medical schools. "Our results suggest that there were significant differences in the probability of first year dropout across university medical schools in the UK, even after controlling for observable differences in student characteristics."
But they say they are cautious about the idea of league tables that are based on dropout rates, because the rankings of the schools varied over time.
The authors say that any relaxing of traditional entry standards should be accompanied by additional support for students. "Our results imply that any policy of reducing or relaxing the entry requirements for medical school entrants risks raising the dropout rate from medical degree programmes," they say.(Abergavenny Roger Dobson)