Evaluation of Academic Success of Ankara University Faculty of Medicine Students According to the Social Determinants of Health
Abstract
Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between social determinants of health (SDOH) and academic achievement among preclinical students at Ankara University Faculty of Medicine. We aim to provide insights for policies and practices that promote student well-being and ensure equal support for academic achievement.
Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional survey design was used over an 18-month period from October 2021 to March 2023. Data were collected via an online survey using Google Forms, including demographic and academic achievement information, and analyzed using statistical tests. Ethical approval was obtained, and a sample of 153 participants were used for analysis.
Results: This study was conducted with 153 preclinical students at Ankara University Faculty of Medicine and SDOH was assessed. The majority of participants were Turkish citizens (93.5%) and female (65.4%), and had various housing arrangements such as living with their parents (39.9%) or living in a dormitory with roommates (32.0%). Factors such as access to healthcare, monthly income, safety, social support, and environmental conditions were assessed. Academic achievement measured by Likert scale revealed that feeling free from discrimination and receiving psychological support were significantly associated with academic performance. However, other SDOHs did not show significant associations with academic achievement.
Conclusion: Although SDOHs other than feeling free from discrimination and receiving psychological support did not show significant correlations in our study, further research is needed to explore their effects. Creating a supportive and non-discriminatory environment is important for the academic success and well-being of medical students.
Keywords
Academic success, academic inventory scale, social determinants of health, medical students
Ethical Statement
: Ethical approval was
obtained from the Ankara University Faculty of Medicine Ethics
Committee for Student Research (decision no.: E-72189195-
050.03.04-775372, date: 02.01.2023)
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