EFFECT OF GENDER ON REGULARITY OF UNDERGRADUATE DENTAL STUDENTS FROM ALL FOUR YEARS OF BACHELOR OF DENTAL SURGERY, SMDC, LAHORE

Abstract

Objectives:This study aimed to find the effect of genders on the regularity of the undergraduate dental students from all four years of Sharif College of Dentistry, SMDC, Lahore.
Materials & Methods:A study was done on the undergraduate dental students from all four years of the bachelor of dental surgery enrolled in Sharif College of Dentistry, Lahore. Students from each year were included irrespective of their age and gender and those who had withdrawn from the program before the end of the session, those who could not attend college due to any personal problem for over a period of one month and those who had been upgraded from another dental college were not included in the study. In this cross-sectional study, the end of the year cumulative attendance in the form of percentages was obtained from the relevant departments, and specially designed questionnaires were distributed among the 195 undergraduate dental students. The questionnaire consisted of questions on various factors that motivate students to maintain regularity in college. The data were analyzed using SPSS version 23, and all nominal data was entered in frequencies and percentages whereas all numerical data was entered as mean with its respective standard deviation. Chi-square test was applied for determining the association of gender with different factors affecting the regularity of students from all years of study. P value, i.e., (p<0.05) was taken as significant.
Results:A study was done on 195 undergraduate dental students from all four years of Sharif College of Dentistry. SMDC, Lahore with a male to female ratio of 1:2.45, mean age of 21+S.D 1.398). Excellent attendance was more among the first year students (14%) followed by thirdyear students (5%), first year and second year (1%) only. Poor attendance was reported to be insignificant with only (1%) among the third year students only. It was seen that gender and attendance were also significantly related (p=0.03) with excellent attendance seen higher among the females (31%) with (6%) only among the males. There was a significant correlation between all four motivating factors for regularity (acquisition of basic knowledge, preparation in accordance with exam pattern, being noticed by teachers/ receiving good marks and acquisition of major knowledge) with different years of study (p=0.044, p=0.039,p=0.000,p=0.001 respectively).
Conclusion: First-year students predominantly maintained an excellent attendance all year round while a very low but equal percentage of second, third and final year students had poor attendance. Females had comparatively a greater attendance percentage than males. Acquisition of basic knowledge, preparation in accordance with exam pattern, being noticed by teachers, receiving good marks and acquisition of major knowledge were all recognized by students as motivating factors for their regularity.