title: [Effects on academic performance of a leveling program in basic sciences in first year medical students].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  A significant number of students in health careers do not have the knowledge to approve basic courses. Therefore, educational programs to level off knowledge have been developed.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To associate the results of a leveling program with the academic performance in cell biology (CB) and biochemistry (BC) of first year medical students.
  
  
  METHODS
  We applied a test to first year medical students at the beginning and end of the leveling program (control test). The results obtained at the end of the leveling program were correlated with the results obtained in CB and BC.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Fifty seven of 89 (64%) first year medical students met the study entry criteria (54% female). Students who completed the leveling program had a significantly higher approval rate in CB (93% versus 75%, P = 0.024), and in BC (95% versus 69%, P = 0.001). After completing the leveling program, the risk of failing CB and BC, decreased by 72 and 84% respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study shows that medical students who participate in the leveling program decrease the chances of failing in CB and BC.
authors.affiliation: Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Finis Terrae, Santiago, Chile.
authors.forename: Lucía
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Santelices
authors.forename: Carolina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.forename: Alejandro J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Zárate
authors.forename: Mauricio
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Soto
authors.forename: Natalia
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Jara S
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dougnac
mesh_terms: D001671:Biochemistry; D003585:Cell Biology; D002677:Chile; D003479:Curriculum; D004504:Education, Medical, Undergraduate; D004521:Educational Measurement; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D013337:Students, Medical; D014505:Urban Population