Adjustment of first year medical students in Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University.

Abstract

Background : Adjustment in university life is important period of adolescent. However, studies in Thailand have been limited and students from many faculties were collected in previous studies. This study may help improve the adjustment of first year medical students at the Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University.

Objective : To study the adjustment and associated factors of adjustment among First Year Medical Students in Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University.

Design : A cross-sectional study.

Setting : Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University.

Materials and Methods : Data were collected from 247 first-year undergraduate students who studied at the Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University in the first semester of 2013. All participants completed two questionnaires: personal information and the student adaptation to college questionnaire. The statistics utilized weremean, percentage, Pearson correlation, Spearman’s rho correlation, independent samples t-test, one way ANOVA, and regression analysis.

Result : The study found that most of first year medical students had moderate to good level in overall adjustment, academic adjustment, personal and emotional adjustment and social adjustment and good level in institutional attachment and goal commitment adjustment. The personal factors that predicted adjustment in university were age, grade point average of high school (GPAX.) and extracurricular activities undertaken. These found that overall adjustment was predicted by high level of extracurricular activities undertaken (p = 0.001), moderate level of extracurricular activities undertaken (p = 0.018), age (p = 0.040) and GPAX. (p = 0.048). Academic adjustment was predicted by GPAX. (p = 0.026). Personal and emotional adjustment was predicted by age (p = 0.010). Social adjustment was predicted by high level of extracurricular activities undertaken (p <0.001), moderate level of extracurricular activities undertaken (p = 0.004) and age (p = 0.029). Institutional attachment and goal commitment adjustment was predicted by high level of extracurricular activities undertaken (p = 0.003) and moderate level of extracurricular activities undertaken (p = 0.032).

Conclusion : Most of first year medical students had moderate to good level in overall adjustment, academic adjustment, personal and emotional adjustment and social adjustment and good level in institutional attachment and goal commitment adjustment. The associated personal factors of adjustment in university were age, grade point average of high school (GPAX.) and extracurricular activities undertaken. This study may help make the plans for many activities to improve the adjustment of first year medical students in Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University.