Background: The demanding academic and professional environment faced by medical students renders them susceptible to mental health challenges. Tailored academic advising (AA) services are crucial in catering to the distinct requirements of medical students. This study evaluates the quality of AA from the perspective of medical students and proposes improvements in the AA approach.
Method: The study comprised 250 pre-clinical year students from Mashhad Medical School. A valid AA quality evaluation questionnaire was used to measure students' perception and attitude towards AA, to evaluate the performance of students and advisors, and factors affecting its quality. Chi-square, t-test, ANOVA, and logistic regression were used for data analysis.
Results: Although a majority of medical students exhibited a favorable disposition towards AA, 37% acknowledged never utilizing the AA, with only 10.4% engaging in regular consultations. The satisfaction rate with AA stood at 47%. Obstacles concerning advisor performance were identified as more prevalent reasons for student discontent, including deficiencies in advisory skills, unfamiliarity with educational protocols, low time, and low motivation. Alongside academic concerns, 36% of students sought advice for psychological issues. Logistic regression analysis showed that counselors' performance, students' knowledge, and students' positive attitudes increased the rate of students using AA.
Conclusion: Enhancing AA services necessitates augmenting students' awareness regarding the available support mechanisms and upgrading the skills and commitment levels of advisors. While faculty advisors play a pivotal role in career progression, the efficiency of AA services could be heightened by incorporating an assistant psychologist alongside specialized training for faculty advisors.