Absence of undergraduate medical students from clinical rotations; Its causes and way forward

Introduction: Absenteeism during clinical rotations among medical students is on the rise, adversely affecting both patient care and the development of essential clinical skills. Factors such as inadequate learning resources, exhaustion, and disengagement contribute to this trend, which must be addressed to safeguard the quality of medical training and future healthcare quality. This study aimed to identify the underlying causes of absenteeism among undergraduate medical students and to propose strategies to improve attendance and learning outcomes. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on third, fourth, and final-year students of primary medical qualification at Rashid Latif Medical College, Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan, from June 2024 to July 2024. A validated, self-structured questionnaire was distributed during clinical rotations. Data were analysed using SPSS version 25. Frequencies and percentages were calculated to summarise attendance patterns and perceived barriers. Pearson’s correlation was used to examine associations between absenteeism factors—personal health, family obligations, academic workload, perceived relevance of rotations and academic year, with statistical significance set at p ≤ 0.05. Results: Out of 450 surveys, 270 students responded: 31% third year, 27% fourth year, and 43% final year students. Faculty-related barriers included poor feedback (3.2), ineffective communication (3.2), lack of preparation (3.3), and unprofessional attitude (3.3). Personal obstacles included personal health (3.2), lack of learning resources (3.4), and family obligations (3.3). Additionally, 41% of the students believed that non-exam-specific rotations were irrelevant. Conclusion: Faculty dissatisfaction, peer pressure and downplaying non-exam specific rotations cause clinical rotation absenteeism. Systemic reforms and enhanced faculty engagement are essential to improve students’ professional development and clinical engagement.