factors affecting academic failure in region ii medical universities students

academic failure is an important issue in medical students which, if not controlled, will cause a drop in the academic level of physicians and paramedics in the coming years. therefore, identification of factors affecting academic failure can influence the future planning of universities and reduce those factors and help effectiveness and flourishing of these students. this study aimed to investigate the factors influencing academic failure in medical universities' students in the region ii of country which and its results can be applicable to whole country. this study is a case-control study including all students with academic failure in the academic year 2009 in semnan, mashhad, gorgan, shahroud, sabzevar, gonabad and bojnoord universities of medical sciences (probation, increased educational semesters, failure in comprehensive medical tests).data on students with academic failure and other students was collected and analysed using spss software by chi-square test at 5% significance level. the prevalence of academic failure in men was higher than women (n=571 , 5.33%). there was a significant difference between two groups in terms of gender, type of university, degree and entry quota (p <0.05). given the significant differences in some demographic and educational characteristics between students with and without academic failure, special attention and planning in this area are necessary.