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Abstract

Purpose: The number of medical school applicants far exceeds the number of available positions, leading to intense competition. Despite previous academic success and high scores, some students find it difficult to cope with course demands and drop out. This scoping review aims to address potential gaps in the literature on early student attrition from medical schools, including the influence of the admission process and curricula.

Methods: A comprehensive literature search was conducted to identify relevant articles published in English-language, peer-reviewed journals. The search was scanned from inception to January 2021 using online databases PubMed, Scopus, and ERIC. Covidence software was used for article screening and selection. Additional studies were identified via the reference lists of included articles and by scanning titles and abstracts from high-profile medical education journals.

Results: The search resulted in 426 titles, of which 60 articles met our eligibility criteria. Student attrition in the early years of medical school is primarily due to academic failure resulting from cognitive factors such as insufficient basic knowledge or learning capacity. However, potential non-cognitive factors such as personal values and challenges, psychological traits, and the effect of specific curricula have not been sufficiently explored.

Conclusion: Medical educators must understand the reasons for attrition among medical students to enhance the overall learning experience and retain promising students. Results varied among studies due to differences in student populations, admission criteria, assessment methods, and educational approaches across institutions. Cognitive factors are mainly responsible for early dropouts in medical schools. Future research should investigate non-cognitive factors and their impact on student attrition from medical schools.

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