title: Difficulties facing first-year medical students at Umm Alqura University in Saudi Arabia.
abstract: This study investigated medical students' study habits and perceptions of learning difficulties during their first year of study. A specially-designed questionnaire was answered by 165 second-year medical and medical science students at Umm Alqura University in Saudi Arabia. Out of the 7 difficulties listed in the questionnaire, students ranked peer competition first, followed by poor English language skills. Male students ranked peer competition as the top difficulty whereas females ranked it fourth. A majority of students were dissatisfied with the passive, lecture-based method of teaching and wanted the English language curriculum to be improved by more emphasis on conversation skills. Early introduction of the concept of active learning and effective studying habits is needed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Medical College, Umm Alqura University, Saudi Arabia; Department of Medicine, King Faisal Specialist Hospital, Jedda, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Almoallim
authors.affiliation: Department of Dentistry, International Medical Center, Jedda, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Aldahlawi
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, National Guard Hospital. Jedda, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Alqahtani
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Al-Hada Armed Forces Hospital, Taif, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Alqurashi
authors.affiliation: Department of Family Medicine, National Guard Hospital. Jedda, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Munshi