The establishment of student needs: an important internal factor affecting course outcome

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Student Well-being
• Academic Performance

Background:

• Effective teaching and learning necessitate identifying factors hindering student achievement.
• Learner involvement is key to program success and student motivation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify features threatening maximal student achievement.
• To assess self-perceived needs and concerns of medical students.
• To establish strategies for resolving identified issues.

Main Methods:

• A survey instrument was developed from a pilot study.
• Second- and third-year medical students participated.
• Students ranked their top 10 distress-causing needs/concerns and suggested solutions.

Main Results:

• Content overload was the primary concern for both student groups.
• Learning problems and time management were also significant issues.
• Junior students faced "failure to cope" and "fear of failure"; senior students cited financial matters and recreation time constraints.

Conclusions:

• Study skills courses, curriculum rearrangement, and improved lecturing are recommended solutions.
• Addressing student needs and concerns can enhance teaching and learning effectiveness.
• Findings offer transferable insights for educational institutions.