Sociodemographic variables related to academic performance in the subject Clinical Pharmacology

Abstract

Introduction: academic performance does not depend exclusively on individual abilities but also on sociodemographic factors.

Objective: to identify the relationship between some sociodemographic variables and the low academic performance of third year students of Medicine career in the Clinical Pharmacology subject.

Methods: an analytical observational study was carried out at Faculty No.1 of the University of Medical Sciences of Santiago de Cuba, in 141 Cuban students with low academic performance of the third year of Medicine of the 2015-2016 academic year, selected by non-probability sampling by reasoned decision. Descriptive and inferential statistics, the chi-square coefficient (X²) with independence test were used to test the hypothesis, and its statistical significance was defined (p value equal to or less than 0,05). Ethical precepts were followed.

Results: 87,94 % of the students obtained regular rating, and 12,06 % of poor. Among them, the female sex (79,43 %), the age of 21 years (41,13 %), the urban origin (72,00 %), the source of pre-university income (84,00 %) and the singles (82,98 %) predominated. Were relevant for low academic performance, due to their statistical significance, age, sex, and childbearing. Variables such as marital status, self-employment activity outside of teaching hours and the means of income, showed independence but were socially relevant in the studied context.

Conclusions: almost a third part of the students obtained a low academic performance in the final evaluation. Only age, sex, and childbearing were relevant for their statistical significance