Journal of Education and Health Promotion

Perception of dental faculty and student regarding class attendance and final performance

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

. Sudhir S. Rawlani
. Shivlal M. Rawlani 1
. Vidya Lohe 1
. Rahul Bhowate 1
. Monika Rawlani Khubchandani 1
. Rakhi Chandak 2

1 Department of Public Health Dentistry, VSPM Dental College and Hospital, Department of Oral Medicine and Radiology, SPDC, DMIMSU, Wardha,

2 Department of Oral Medicine and Radiology, SDK Dental College, Nagpur, Maharashtra, India

Abstract
AIM: The aim of this study was to assess the impact of lecture attendance on the academic
performance of 3rd BDS students at the DMIMS‑U, Sawangi (M), Wardha. This project investigated
and correlated the difference between faculty and student perceptions regarding attendance and
final performance, including factors thought to influence student attendance.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: Participants from a single university were included in the present
retrospective observational study. The study was conducted in April 2016; 77 3rd BDS students
(2012 Batch) and teaching staff of SPDC willing to voluntarily participate were included and divided
into two groups such as Group A and Group B. Student and faculty perceptions were obtained using
Likert scale having 15 closed‑ended and 3 open‑ended questions. Questioner was made related to
factors affecting the attendance in class, type of source available for study, awareness about topic,
and faculty approach. Comparison between perception of students and faculty regarding attendance
and final performance was done using Mann–Whitney U‑test. P < 0.05 was considered statistically
significant.
RESULTS: Quantitative analyses revealed significant differences between faculty and student
perceptions on most of the project variables. Qualitative analyses reinforced those findings and
suggested that faculty misunderstood what factors actually influence student attendance. The results
suggest that there is a substantial disconnect between faculty and student perceptions regarding the
importance of class attendance and highlighted areas for faculty to influence student attendance.
CONCLUSION: Motivation is the major factor causing students to attend the lectures. Unfortunately,
not all students are motivated to study and learn. New styles of teaching may need to be looked into.
This needs to be further investigated on large sample size.

Keywords

Attendance
faculty‑student differences
final performance
perceptions
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Journal of Education and Health Promotion
Volume 8, Issue 12
December 2018
Pages 1-7

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