Low Attendance of Lectures among Medical Students

Abstract

Abstract Background: Absenteeism is defined as the frequent nonattendance from classes with no reasonable cause. Nonattendance affects the teaching–learning practice and affects the well-being of the class. Causes given by students for absenteeism were lack of time, illness boring, or unexciting lecture topics. Aim of the Study: The aim of this study was to determine the absenteeism behavior among students of the medical college of Al-Mustansiriyah University, Iraq, to find out the causes behind lectures’ nonattendance, and to demonstrate the rate of the most common causes. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study, descriptive study, was conducted at Al-Mustansiriyah University, College of Medicine, with a convenient sample from the third, fourth, and fifth classes, in March 2019 for 3 weeks, using a special questionnaire was made especially for the purpose of the study, and data analysis was performed using Excel trial version software and the use of descriptive statistical techniques. Results: About two-thirds of the students missed approximately 0–5 lectures per week. The qualities of lecturers, their training, and the relationship they have with the students appear to play a role in attending lectures. The results show that about one-third of students consider the difficult subject and their desire to benefit from the lecture influenced their decision to attend. The most common cause chosen for nonattendance was having an examination on the next day, about 66%, and lecturer expression was 63%. The most common cause for missing morning lectures was traffic problems, 53%. Conclusion: The lecture attendance rate was low, and the main reasons for absenteeism from lectures were the presence of the examination, poor lecturer teaching style, and boring lecture topics.