Medicine
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This repository contains the published and unpublished research of the Faculty of Medicine by the staff members of the faculty
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Item Feasibility of introducing General English as an university entry requirement for Medicine: results of a national survey(National Centre for Advanced Studies in Humanities and Social Sciences, 2012) de Silva, N.R.; Priyabhashini, G.D.C.; Godage, P.K.; Premakumara, P.; Pathmeswaran, A.The feasibility of introducing General English as an entry requirement for study of Medicine in Sri Lanka was examined through the assessment of General English results at the 2009 and 2010 G.C.E. Advanced Level examinations and through a questionnaire survey administered to principals and General English teachers in 411 type 1AB schools during the period May – June 2011. A significant proportion of students selected for Medicine in the period of study had not passed General English. Student performance was linked to teacher availability, which showed significant regional disparities. Nationally, about one-third of schools did not have enough General English teachers as evaluated by the Principal of the school.Item Selection of medical students in Sri Lanka: time to re-think criteria?(Sri Lanka Medical Association, 2011) Hewage, S.N.; Salgado, L.S.S.; Fernando, G.M.O.; Liyanage, P.L.C.K.; Pathmeswaran, A.; de Silva, N.R.OBJECTIVE: To examine the validity of selected entry level characteristics in relation to the GCE A/L examination as independent predictors of performance of students in medical school. METHODS : A retrospective, analytical study was done at the Faculty of Medicine, University of Kelaniya. Student characteristics at entry were described by sex, the average z-score, General English grade and attempt at GCE A/L examination, and average mark obtained at the English placement test on registration to medical school. Average marks at three summative examinations were used as indicators of performance in medical school. Multivariate analysis using multiple linear regression was carried out using these three outcome measures in relation to four entry point variables as predictors of performance in medical school. Causal path diagrams were constructed using standardised regression coefficients for the whole group and for male and female students separately. RESULTS: The A/L z-score, A/L attempt and English placement test marks were all significant predictors of outcome at the First Examination. Of the variables relating to the A/L examination, the attempt had a much higher path coefficient with performance at the First Examination than the A/L z-score, as did the English marks. Separate path analyses for male and female students showed that while the significance of the relationships remained the same, the magnitude of the correlation was different. CONCLUSIONS: Students who gain admission on their 3rd attempt at the AL examination fare much worse than those admitted to medical school on their 1st attempt. Differences between sexes in examination performance are probably linked to both A/L attempt and English language proficiency.Item Selection of students for admission to a medical school in Sri Lanka(Sri Lanka Medical Association, 2004) de Silva, N.R.; Pathmeswaran, A.; de Silva, H.J.OBJECTIVES: To assess the extent to which selected entry point factors predicted success in a Sri Lankan medical school. METHODS: The study sample consisted of all students in two consecutive entry cohorts. Marks obtained at the national university entrance examination in physics, chemistry, botany and zoology; the aggregate marks of these four subjects (the only academic criterion used in selection); the district of entry (the other, non-academic criterion); and gender, were identified as entry point variables. Success in a medical school was measured in five ways, including whether a student had passed all examinations in the medical faculty at first attempt or not. Multiple logistic regression was used to assess the extent to which the selected entry point factors could predict variability in outcome measures. RESULTS: Of 331 students, 6.6% were merit quota admissions, and 19.4% were from 'underprivileged' districts; 46.8% were women. Of the entry point factors, being female and obtaining an aggregate of > or =280 (of a possible 400) were the only independent predictors of success in all outcome measures. Obtaining at least grade B in zoology was also an independent predictor of passing all examinations at first attempt. The aggregate score alone accounted for only 2-5% of variance in a medical school performance. There was no association between admission from an underprivileged district and any of the outcome measures. CONCLUSIONS: The one and only measure of academic performance used for selection of students admitted to our medical schools, is a very weak predictor of success in a medical school.