Medical College Attendance-Relevance in an Era of E-learning

The role of compulsory attendance in higher education institutions, given the easy access to online knowledge and training, is a matter of debate and differing opinions. This study aims to revisit the relevance of attendance in the setting of a Wi-Fi campus with easy access to digital technology and resources.

The objective of this study is to analyse internal assessments (IA) and total marks in the university final examination in General Medicine subject (TGM), with respect to attendance.

With university permission, final computed attendance, IA and TGM of 132 students were recorded. Three groups based on attendance were analysed using SPSS 20.0.

Pass percentage of students increased with increasing attendance (p>.05). One-way Analysis of variance (ANOVA) showed significant difference in the mean TGM of the three attendance groups (F(2, 129) = 3.4, p=.036) and their IA as well (F(2, 129) =4.57, p=.012). Bivariate correlation of both TGM and IA with attendance was significant (p<.05). Scatter plots revealed linear rise in IA with attendance while TGM showed linear rise up to an attendance of 80%. Significant predictive models were present for TGM and IA by attendance (p<.05 for both).

Attendance in traditional classroom is still a reliable parameter to determine eligibility and progression in medical college. Increasing student attendance deserves attention. Newer and interactive teaching-learning methods are hence not merely desired but imperative.