Entry characteristics and performance in a Masters module in Tropical Medicine: a 5-year analysis

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Health Professions Education

Background:

• Postgraduate courses are vital for developing skilled professionals, especially in resource-limited areas.
• Identifying predictors of student performance allows for timely interventions and support.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine how applicant entry characteristics predict performance in a postgraduate medical module.
• To inform the development of early support measures for students in master of science programs.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of demographic data and examination marks from medical doctors in MSc programs (2010-2014).
• Univariate analysis using t-tests and ANOVA to compare mean marks based on entry characteristics.
• Multivariable analysis using multiple regression to identify significant predictors of performance.

Main Results:

• Medical graduates from UK universities scored significantly higher than non-UK graduates.
• Student age and time since graduation were negatively correlated with module marks.
• Place of medical degree and time since graduation were the strongest predictors of performance, explaining 32% of mark variation.

Conclusions:

• Student performance in this module is significantly influenced by entry criteria.
• Non-UK graduates and older students may require targeted early support to enhance their academic outcomes.