title: Frequency and predictors of courses repetition, probation, and delayed graduation in kashan faculty of nursing and midwifery.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Course failing and delayed graduation are important concerns in educational systems. The reasons of these educational failures need to be clarified.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This study was designed to determine the academic failure rate and its predictors in Nursing and Midwifery Students in Kashan University of Medical Sciences.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this cross-sectional study, the records of all the students graduated in Nursing and Midwifery faculty during 18 years (1986 - 2003) were evaluated (1174 graduates). The demographic variables and the educational situation were recorded. The frequency of course repetition, probation, and delayed graduation were determined and the data were analyzed using the chi-square and logistic regression tests.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The frequency of course repetition, probation, and delayed graduation was reported to be 19.25%, 3.9% and 19.85%, respectively. Gaining Low grade in high school, transferring from other universities, having special quota, and transferring temporarily to other universities were mentioned as the risk factors of academic failure. The major had a significant relationship with academic failure. Day time students had more course failure and night time students stayed longer in the university.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The individual characteristics, educational background and admission criteria had showed relation with academic failure. Vulnerable students should be identified and educational supports should be provided for these students.
authors.affiliation: Department of Health and Management Nursing, Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Kashan, IR Iran.
authors.forename: Zahra
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Tagharrobi
authors.affiliation: Trauma Nursing Research Center, Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Kashan, IR Iran.
authors.forename: Negin
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Masoudi Alavi
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Kashan, IR Iran.
authors.forename: Esmail
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Fakharian
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology, Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Kashan, IR Iran.
authors.forename: Fakhrossadat
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Mirhoseini
authors.affiliation: Department of Health and Management Nursing, Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Kashan, IR Iran.
authors.forename: Sayyed Asghar
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Rasoulinejad
authors.affiliation: Department of Statistics and Public Health, Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Kashan, IR Iran.
authors.forename: Hossein
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Akbari
authors.affiliation: Postgraduate Studies Office, Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Kashan, IR Iran.
authors.forename: Hossein
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ameli
keywords: Education, Medical; Educational Measurement; Educational Status; Student Dropouts