Factors associated with the academic success of dental students during the clinical cycle of professional training

Abstract

The aim of this study was determining the factors related to academic success as it is considered the approval of the clinical subjects of the Dentistry degree of Universidad Austral de Chile. An analytical study was conducted with logistic regression analysis using a significance level of p <0.05. The variables such as sex, residence, type of secondary school graduation establishment, history of failure, work, university selection test scores, and middle school grades were studied. A total of 119 students participated in this study, 70 students from fourth year and 49 from fifth year. Logistic regression analysis, displayed a statistically significant association for the fourth year clinical cycle of the factors of: female sex (odds ratio [OR], 5.05; confidence interval [CI], 3,848-6,261) and PSU language over 660 points (odds ratio [OR], 0.28; confidence interval [CI], -0.933-1.504), and for the fifth year clinical cycle was the factor of: no history of failure (odds ratio [OR] , 0.137; confidence interval [CI], -1,550-1,824). The predictive factors of academic performance are variable during the clinical cycle of the Dentistry major, demonstrating differences between fourth- and fifth-year students. It is suggested that these results are considered to provide student support in a timely manner.