Aslı KARAKILIÇ, Hayrettin KARA, Haydar Ali ERKEN, Gülten ERKEN, Ahmet Burak FİLİK

The Determinants of Academic Achievement in Medical Students: a Cross-Sectional Designed Multifactorial Approach

Objective: Medical students have a heavy academic burden, hence, various factors can directly and easily affect their academic performance. In this study, we aimed to investigate the effects of hemoglobin levels, body composition, nutritional status and physical activity on academic achievement in medical students. Methods: 121 students (69 males, 52 females) participated in the study. Body compositions were recorded; data concerning nutritional habits, food consumption frequency and physical activity was obtained using a survey. The hemoglobin and hematocrit values measured in the physiology practice were recorded and the scores obtained from the committee exam were considered as academic achievement criteria. Results: Female students were found to be more successful than males (p=0.012). Smokers (p=0.007) and sugary-beverage consumers (p=0.022) were also more unsuccessful. Males who did not consume coffee daily were more successful than those who did (p=0.015). Additionally, males with moderate physical activity levels were more successful than those who had low physical activity levels (p=0.04). Furthermore, there was a moderate positive correlation between academic achievement and sedentary behavior (p˂0.05, r=0.265). Discussion: Based on our findings, we determined that smoking, coffee and sugary-beverage consumption may negatively affect academic success in medical students. Studying theoretical lessons daily for a sufficient period and getting moderate physical activity in leisure time can be recommended as tools for medical students to increase academic achievement.

Keywords:

Academic achievement, body composition, physical activity, nutrition, medical education,

PDF

___

1. Dubuc MM, Aubertin-Leheudre M, Karelis AD. Relationship between Academic Performance with Physical, Psychosocial, Lifestyle, and Sociodemographic Factors in Female Undergraduate Students. Int J Prev Med. 2017; 8: 22.
2. World Health Organisation (WHO). Body Mass Index-BMI. https://bit.ly/32xqnDt
3. Lee R, Nieman D: Anthropometry: Nutritional Assessment, vol. 119. USA: Brown and Benchmark; 1993.
4. Pekcan GŞ, N.; Baş, M.: Türkiye Beslenme Rehberi TÜBER 2015. Ankara: T.C. Sağlık Bakanlığı; 2016.
5. Rakıcıoğlu N, Samur G, Başoğlu S: Diyetisyenler İçin Hasta İzlem Rehberi/Ağırlık Yönetimi El Kitabı. Ankara: T.C. Sağlık Bakanlığı Halk Sağlığı Genel Müdürlüğü; 2017.
6. Saglam M, Arikan H, Savci S et al. International physical activity questionnaire: reliability and validity of the Turkish version. Percept Mot Skills. 2010; 111: 278-84.
7. WHO: Haemoglobin Concentrations for the Diagnosis of Anaemia and Assessment of Severity Geneva: World Health Organization; 2011.
8. Baykan Z, Naçar M. Tıp fakültesi öğrencilerinin sigara kullanımı ve tütün kanununa ilişkin görüşleri. Dicle Tıp Dergisi. 2014; 41: 483-90.
9. Paul RH, Brickman AM, Cohen RA et al. Cognitive status of young and older cigarette smokers: data from the international brain database. J Clin Neurosci. 2006; 13: 457-65.
10. Ferguson E, James D, Madeley L. Factors associated with success in medical school: systematic review of the literature. BMJ (Clinical research ed). 2002; 324: 952-7.
11. Haidinger G, Frischenschlager O, Mitterauer L. Reliability of predictors of study success in medicine. Wien Med Wochenschr. 2006; 156: 416- 20.
12. Muñoz-García MI, Martínez-González MA, Martín-Moreno JM et al. Sugar-sweetened and artificially-sweetened beverages and changes in cognitive function in the SUN project. Nutritional Neuroscience. 2020; 23: 946-54.
13. Bleiweiss-Sande R, Chui K, Wright C, et al. Associations between Food Group Intake, Cognition, and Academic Achievement in Elementary Schoolchildren. Nutrients. 2019; 11: 2722.
14. Naveed S, Lakka T, Haapala EA. An Overview on the Associations between Health Behaviors and Brain Health in Children and Adolescents with Special Reference to Diet Quality. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2020; 17: 953.
15. Loprinzi PD, Edwards MK, Crush E, Ikuta T, Del Arco A. Dose–Response Association Between Physical Activity and Cognitive Function in a National Sample of Older Adults. American Journal of Health Promotion. 2018; 32: 554-60.
16. Bernard P, Doré I, Romain AJ, et al. Dose response association of objective physical activity with mental health in a representative national sample of adults: A cross-sectional study. PLoS One. 2018; 13.
17. Cappelletti S, Piacentino D, Sani G, Aromatario M. Caffeine: cognitive and physical performance enhancer or psychoactive drug? Curr Neuropharmacol. 2015; 13: 71-88.
18. Gilliland K, Andress D. Ad lib caffeine consumption, symptoms of caffeinism, and academic performance. Am J Psychiatry. 1981; 138: 512-4.
19. Carson V, Hunter S, Kuzik N, et al. Systematic review of sedentary behaviour and health indicators in school-aged children and youth: an update. Appl Physiol Nutr Metab. 2016; 41: S240-65.
20. Haapala EA, Poikkeus AM, Kukkonen-Harjula K, et al. Associations of physical activity and sedentary behavior with academic skills--a follow-up study among primary school children. PLoS One. 2014; 9: e107031.
21. Stoltzfus RJ ML, Black RE: Iron deficiency anaemia. In: Comparative quantification of health risks: Global and regional burden of disease attributable to selected major risk factors. Volume 1, edn. Edited by Ezzati M LA, Rodgers A, Murray CJL; 2004: 163-209.
22. Shah RC, Wilson RS, Tang Y, et al. Relation of hemoglobin to level of cognitive function in older persons. Neuroepidemiology. 2009; 32: 40-6.
23. Schneider ALC, Jonassaint C, Sharrett AR et al. Hemoglobin, Anemia, and Cognitive Function: The Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Study. The Journals of Gerontology: Series A. 2015; 71: 772-9.
24. Rani NA, Arasegowda R, Mukherjee P, Dhananjay SY. Prevalence of Nutritional Deficiency Anaemia and Its Impact on Scholastic Performance among Undergraduate Medical Students. J Clin Diagn Res. 2017; 11: Bc21-bc3.
25. Ptomey LT, Steger FL, Schubert MM, et al. Breakfast Intake and Composition Is Associated with Superior Academic Achievement in Elementary Schoolchildren. J Am Coll Nutr. 2016; 35: 326-33.
26. Ivanovic D, Vasquez M, Aguayo M, et al. Nutrition and education. III. Educational achievement and food habits of Chilean elementary and high school graduates. Arch Latinoam Nutr. 1992; 42: 9-14.
27. Jacka FN, Cherbuin N, Anstey KJ, Sachdev P, Butterworth P. Western diet is associated with a smaller hippocampus: a longitudinal investigation. BMC Med. 2015; 13: 215.
28. Benton D. Micro-nutrient supplementation and the intelligence of children. Neurosci Biobehav Rev. 2001; 25: 297-309.
29. Perlman AI, Worobey J, O'Sullivan Maillet J, et al. Multivitamin/Mineral supplementation does not affect standardized assessment of academic performance in elementary school children. J Am Diet Assoc. 2010; 110: 1089-93.
30. Veena SR, Hegde BG, Ramachandraiah S, et alK. Relationship between adiposity and cognitive performance in 9-10-year-old children in South India. Arch Dis Child. 2014; 99: 126-34.