Graduation Year

2016

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree

Ph.D.

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)

Degree Granting Department

Adult, Career and Higher Education

Major Professor

William H. Young III, Ed.D.

Committee Member

Waynne B. James, Ed.D.

Committee Member

Jeffrey Kromrey, Ph.D.

Committee Member

Thomas Miller, Ed.D.

Keywords

Undergraduate Medical Education, Student Affairs, Correlation Study

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between the utilization of student support services and overall satisfaction in medical school. Utilization of services, and overall satisfaction were analyzed by gender, race/ethnicity, and medical specialty choice. In addition, the study identified the most utilized support service, and explored whether utilization of services and overall satisfaction were correlated with academic performance.

Two medical schools in the state of Florida were used for the study, University of South Florida Morsani College of Medicine (USF MCOM), and Florida State University College of Medicine (FSU CoM). Separate anonymous, three-part, on-line surveys were created and administered to fourth-year students. Data were collected on the utilization of the specific academic and psychological support services available at each school. Data were analyzed by medical school (n = 87; n = 71), and as a combined set (N = 158).

Results of a multiple regression analysis, using each support service as predictors, indicated that the utilization of the primary service for academic counseling at both medical schools was inversely related to overall satisfaction. Results also revealed that no significant differences existed for utilization of support services and overall satisfaction by gender, race/ethnicity, and medical specialty choice. The most utilized service at USF MCOM was the Office of Student Affairs. At FSU CoM, the Office of Student Counseling Services was the most utilized.

The findings indicated that utilization of USF MCOM services increased as academic performance decreased; however, there was no significant relationship between academic performance and utilization of services at FSU CoM. A significant relationship existed between academic performance and overall satisfaction; as students’ experience of academic difficulties increased, their overall satisfaction with medical school decreased.

The implications from this study can help facilitate an initiative, at both medical schools, to broaden the scope and utilization of the academic and psychological support services to possibly increase their influence on student resiliency, and the overall medical school experience.

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