Relationship between admission criteria and academic performance in basic science courses in health science colleges in KAU
Abstract Background At King Abdulaziz University, medical and health science schools depend on admission exams (aptitude and achievement) and preparatory year scores in their students’ selection. However, with the growing number of applicants and the drastic changes in teaching and assessment in the...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2021-02-01
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| Series: | BMC Medical Education |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12909-021-02502-4 |
| _version_ | 1831560372972158976 |
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| author | Aliaa Amr Alamoudi Hind Ibrahim Fallatah Basmah Medhat Eldakhakhny Fatemah Omar Kamel Lana Adey AlShawwa Ayman Zaky Elsamanoudy |
| author_facet | Aliaa Amr Alamoudi Hind Ibrahim Fallatah Basmah Medhat Eldakhakhny Fatemah Omar Kamel Lana Adey AlShawwa Ayman Zaky Elsamanoudy |
| author_sort | Aliaa Amr Alamoudi |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background At King Abdulaziz University, medical and health science schools depend on admission exams (aptitude and achievement) and preparatory year scores in their students’ selection. However, with the growing number of applicants and the drastic changes in teaching and assessment in these colleges, continuous assessment and development of admission criteria are needed. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the correlation of admission exam scores, in addition to the preparatory year Grade Point Average (GPA), with academic performance in the basic science subjects such as Clinical Biochemistry and Clinical Pharmacology in health science colleges. Methods The study was conducted on four cohort studies, two faculty of nursing cohorts; nursing students (2017-2018, n=146) nursing students (2018-2019, n=81), and two faculty of applied medical sciences cohorts, clinical nutrition students (2017-2018, n=33), and clinical nutrition students (2018-2019, n=28). The students’ scores of General Aptitude Test (GAT), Scholastic Achievement Admission Test (SAAT), and preparatory year GPA were all recorded at the beginning of each semester before the beginning of courses. Clinical Biochemistry and Clinical Pharmacology exam results were recorded at the end of the semester. Correlation was done for each cohort and all cohorts pooled. Results Results showed only a weak correlation detected between SAAT and the overall achievement in Clinical Biochemistry (r= 0.192, P= 0.042) in nursing students (2017-2018), but no correlation was seen with SAAT or preparatory year scores. There was also no significant correlation between admission exams scores and the students’ academic achievement in Clinical Biochemistry or Clinical Pharmacology. On the other hand Clinical Pharmacology exam results showed a significant positive correlation with Clinical Biochemistry results (r=0.688, P=0.000). Conclusion Our results could indicate the need to revisit the admission criteria for these colleges. Furthermore, specific preparatory year tracks for health science colleges can ensure that students improve the specific skills and knowledge required for their future college years3 |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-17T05:44:54Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-76d7e33d626e4c859bd4510ccab9d2ad |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1472-6920 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-17T05:44:54Z |
| publishDate | 2021-02-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Medical Education |
| spelling | doaj.art-76d7e33d626e4c859bd4510ccab9d2ad2022-12-21T22:01:21ZengBMCBMC Medical Education1472-69202021-02-012111810.1186/s12909-021-02502-4Relationship between admission criteria and academic performance in basic science courses in health science colleges in KAUAliaa Amr Alamoudi0Hind Ibrahim Fallatah1Basmah Medhat Eldakhakhny2Fatemah Omar Kamel3Lana Adey AlShawwa4Ayman Zaky Elsamanoudy5Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, King Abdulaziz UniversityDepartment of Medical Education, Faculty of Medicine, King Abdulaziz UniversityDepartment of Clinical Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, King Abdulaziz UniversityDepartment of Medical Education, Faculty of Medicine, King Abdulaziz UniversityDepartment of Medical Education, Faculty of Medicine, King Abdulaziz UniversityDepartment of Clinical Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, King Abdulaziz UniversityAbstract Background At King Abdulaziz University, medical and health science schools depend on admission exams (aptitude and achievement) and preparatory year scores in their students’ selection. However, with the growing number of applicants and the drastic changes in teaching and assessment in these colleges, continuous assessment and development of admission criteria are needed. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the correlation of admission exam scores, in addition to the preparatory year Grade Point Average (GPA), with academic performance in the basic science subjects such as Clinical Biochemistry and Clinical Pharmacology in health science colleges. Methods The study was conducted on four cohort studies, two faculty of nursing cohorts; nursing students (2017-2018, n=146) nursing students (2018-2019, n=81), and two faculty of applied medical sciences cohorts, clinical nutrition students (2017-2018, n=33), and clinical nutrition students (2018-2019, n=28). The students’ scores of General Aptitude Test (GAT), Scholastic Achievement Admission Test (SAAT), and preparatory year GPA were all recorded at the beginning of each semester before the beginning of courses. Clinical Biochemistry and Clinical Pharmacology exam results were recorded at the end of the semester. Correlation was done for each cohort and all cohorts pooled. Results Results showed only a weak correlation detected between SAAT and the overall achievement in Clinical Biochemistry (r= 0.192, P= 0.042) in nursing students (2017-2018), but no correlation was seen with SAAT or preparatory year scores. There was also no significant correlation between admission exams scores and the students’ academic achievement in Clinical Biochemistry or Clinical Pharmacology. On the other hand Clinical Pharmacology exam results showed a significant positive correlation with Clinical Biochemistry results (r=0.688, P=0.000). Conclusion Our results could indicate the need to revisit the admission criteria for these colleges. Furthermore, specific preparatory year tracks for health science colleges can ensure that students improve the specific skills and knowledge required for their future college years3https://doi.org/10.1186/s12909-021-02502-4Admission examsAptitudeAchievementPreparatory yearClinical-BiochemistryClinical-Pharamcology |
| spellingShingle | Aliaa Amr Alamoudi Hind Ibrahim Fallatah Basmah Medhat Eldakhakhny Fatemah Omar Kamel Lana Adey AlShawwa Ayman Zaky Elsamanoudy Relationship between admission criteria and academic performance in basic science courses in health science colleges in KAU BMC Medical Education Admission exams Aptitude Achievement Preparatory year Clinical-Biochemistry Clinical-Pharamcology |
| title | Relationship between admission criteria and academic performance in basic science courses in health science colleges in KAU |
| title_full | Relationship between admission criteria and academic performance in basic science courses in health science colleges in KAU |
| title_fullStr | Relationship between admission criteria and academic performance in basic science courses in health science colleges in KAU |
| title_full_unstemmed | Relationship between admission criteria and academic performance in basic science courses in health science colleges in KAU |
| title_short | Relationship between admission criteria and academic performance in basic science courses in health science colleges in KAU |
| title_sort | relationship between admission criteria and academic performance in basic science courses in health science colleges in kau |
| topic | Admission exams Aptitude Achievement Preparatory year Clinical-Biochemistry Clinical-Pharamcology |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12909-021-02502-4 |
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