THE PROPORTION OF MEDICAL STUDENTS WHO FIND STUDYING DIFFICULT IN RELATION TO PARTICULAR SUBJECTS: A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY

Objective: The current study aimed to outline the perceived rate of study difficulty associated with specific subjects among medical students. Methods: Researchers assessed study difficulties of special subjects among medical students at a single point of measurement in this descriptive cross sectional study. Cross-sectional design is suitable as it provides researchers with large set of data during a short period. It also gives reliable results and enable researchers to assess exposure and outcome simultaneously. Participants were first-year medical students at the undergraduate level in the United Kingdom. Two hundred students were chosen at random, with a class of 12–15 pupils serving as the primary selection unit. All volunteers must be at least 18 years old and free of self-reported cognitive abnormalities, mental illness, or any other impairment that would make comprehending and completing the study questionnaires problematic. Results: Study included 325 participants of fifth year medical students. Cardiology was the most favorite subject among study participants (n= 139, 42.8%) followed by orthopedic (n= 118, 36.3%). Half of participants agreed that teachers are explaining the concept in medical college (n= 163, 50.2%). Moreover, more than third of study participants were neutral (n= 129, 39.7%) about teachers are taking initiatives to help choose subjects in medical school. Participants answered that cardiology is the most difficult subject for them in medical school (n= 136, 41.8%) followed by gynecology (n= 94, 28.9%). The most frequently reported strategy was using YouTube videos (260, 80%). Choosing a subject that the student was not confident in affected his/her grades as reported by study participants (n= 230, 70.8%). Half of participants reported that they would not feel pressure and that medical school is not for him/her (n= 157, 48.3%). On the other hand, 93 participants had that feeling (28.6%). Furthermore, 35 participants thought that leaving medical school would be a better option (10.8%). Conclusion: Results showed that cardiology is the favorite subject among study participants and the most difficult one. They had good perception about teachers help in choosing a subject they are not confident in. Study participants used YouTube lectures to help with study difficulties. Choosing a subject that the student was not confident in affected his/her grades as reported by study participants. Half of participants reported that they would not feel pressure and that medical school is not for him/her. Furthermore, some of participants thought that leaving medical school would be a better option (10.8%)