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Gender differences in undergraduate medicine in Galway: a tale of two curricula

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Abstract

Aims

Medical teaching in the National University of Ireland Galway (NUIG) has undergone a shift from subject- to system-based learning. Our aims were to examine differences between genders in academic performance in medicine across two different curricula.

Methods

Results of each student graduating between 2007 and 2012 for each subject undertaken over the medical degree were obtained from the Medical School. Data were collected with respect to gender, nationality and mode of entry, and analysis completed using SPSS.

Results

The cohort included 360 females and 249 males. 396 students read from a subject-based curriculum and 213 a system-based course. Females outperformed males in 19/24 (79 %) subjects in the subject-based curriculum, and in 9/38 (24 %) in the system-based course. Males were more likely to fail and less likely to achieve an honours degree. Multivariate analysis showed nationality and gender to be significant predictive factors.

Conclusion

Females outperformed males overall. Differences were most pronounced in a subject-based curriculum. Nationality and gender were found to be significant factors in determining overall results.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Medicine, c/o Discipline of Surgery, Clinical Sciences Institute, National University of Ireland Galway, Galway, Ireland

    T. P. McVeigh & F. P. Dunne

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  1. T. P. McVeigh
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  2. F. P. Dunne
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Correspondence to T. P. McVeigh.

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McVeigh, T.P., Dunne, F.P. Gender differences in undergraduate medicine in Galway: a tale of two curricula. Ir J Med Sci 183, 103–110 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11845-013-0983-1

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