Sociodemographic and academic characteristics of students in the Medical Program at the Universidad Tecnológica de Pereira. Cohorts 1977-2018

Introduction. The characterization of students in a Medical Program and its impact on academic performance and successful completion is a relatively unstudied process in medical education. Material and Methods:  This observational, descriptive, and cross-sectional study characterized students in the Medical Program at the Universidad Tecnologica de Pereira from 1977-2018. Results:  Participants were grouped into applicants (23738), enrolled (3714), graduates (1984), and non-graduates (1730). In the enrolled student subgroup, the male:female ratio varied with a trend favoring females in terms of age when starting the program, age at graduation, graduation percentage, and periods enrolled. Application and enrollment were predominantly composed of students from lower socioeconomic strata, and who had graduated from public schools. There was a progressive participation of women in all groups, completing the program in less time and graduating at a younger age. The applicant/enrollment ratio was 25:1, unmet demand was 96% and the adjusted percentage of non-graduates was 27.4%. Conclusion: This information opens the discussion on the development of educational policies that seek to increase coverage and strengthen student follow-up programs, allowing for a timely and successful graduation.