ACADEMIC SUCCESS AND FAILURE AMONGST DENTAL STUDENTS: A MIXED METHODS STUDY OF WHAT MATTERS

OBJECTIVE: To explore various factors affecting academic success & failure among public sector dental students. METHODS: This mixed-methods study with explanatory sequential study approach was completed in May 2021 at Bolan Medical College, Quetta, Pakistan. After taking informed written consent, qualitative & quantitative questionnaires rd were distributed among 3 year dental students. Quantitive data was analyzed through SPSS version-20. Qualitaive data was analysed through thematic analysis to identify themes and subthemes. RESULTS: Out of 28 dental students, majority (n=15; 53.6%) were females. Passing percentage of female students was high (n=14/15; 93.33%) as compared to males (n=7/13; 53.85%). Failure was 6.6% (n=1/15) in girls and 46.15% (n=6/13) in boys. In annual exams, 75% (n=21/28) students passed in all subjects. About 89.3% (n=25/28) of successful students were satisfied with teaching strategies, 85.7% (n=24/28) reflected on their learned material, 75% (n=21/28) recalled prior knowledge, 67.9% (n=19/28) were hard-working, 71.4% (n=20/28) were internaly motivated whereas 67.9% (n=19/28) were confident about their abilities. Instrumental design, personal issues and learning environment were the main themes identified. Sub-themes for instrumental design were teaching strategies, overload curriculum & exam strategies; for personal issues were learning style, lack of sleep, coping strategies, class attendance, stress & motivation/interest and for learning environment were students' centered, assessment-centered and teachers' centered. CONCLUSION: Successful students acknowledged the motivation, educational environment and innovative teaching strategies as contributing factors to their success. Hostel issues, lack of sleep, learning strategies