LOW ATTENDANCE IN LECTURES AT MEDICAL COLLEGES OF KARACHI – A CROSS SECTIONAL SURVEY

Objective: To evaluate the attendance of medical students in the lectures and to identify different factors responsible for low attendance. Methodology: This cross sectional study was conducted at three medical colleges in Karachi, Pakistan during July to September 2012. Medical students of 3rd year and above representing different medical colleges were asked to fill out a questionnaire to assess the different reasons why medical students tend to absent themselves from lectures, their views regarding content and quality of lectures. Students having attendance of 50% or more were included in the study. Results: A total of 509 student responded to the survey. Two hundred and eighty two students (having 50% attendance in the last semester) were included in the study. Mean age was 21.14 ± 1.9 years. There were 110 (39%) males and 172 (61%) females. The two most common reasons for not attending the lectures were; timing of the lectures not adjusted according to the students schedule (n=180; 63.8%) and the students preferred self/group study over lectures (n=198; 70.2%). On the other hand majority of the students (n=173; 61.3%) were also of the opinion that it is difficult and complex to learn without lectures. Conclusion: There are various reasons for absenteeism from lectures including timing of the lectures and preference for self study. These need to be rectified in order to strengthen the learning process in medical undergraduates.