title: Factors affecting student participation in extra-curricular activities: A comparison between two Middle Eastern dental schools.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study was conducted to assess the level of participation of dental undergraduate students in extracurricular activities (ECAs) and the factors affecting this participation.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study included dental students enrolled in undergraduate programs at the Faculty of Dentistry, Alexandria University, Egypt, and the College of Dentistry, University of Dammam, Saudi Arabia. A questionnaire was developed to collect background information about students, their participation in ECAs, and time allocated for these activities. Students were asked about their perceptions of the relationship between ECAs and academic studies, and their reasons for participating in and satisfaction with ECAs.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The study included 199 students from Alexandria and 146 students from Dammam, with response rates of 99.5% and 73%, respectively. The percentages of those reporting ECA participation were 27.1% and 43.8%, respectively, mostly in community service, sports, and social activities. About 60% of students did not think that ECAs affected their studies, although the perceived difficulty of balancing ECAs and academics was associated with lower odds of participation (odds ratio = 0.51). Most students participated in ECAs to socialize and make friends, and the majority was dissatisfied with school-organized ECAs (52% and 59%, respectively). Gender and/or perceived relation between ECAs and academic studies affected actual participation in ECAs in one school but not the other.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  ECA participation among these students was low. Gender and perception of ECAs in relation to academic studies affected ECA participation differently in the two schools. Better planning and management of ECAs that incorporate students' preferences and reasons for participation is needed. Gender issues and the relationship between ECAs and academic performance should be addressed in relation to school and social characteristics.
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive Dental Sciences, College of Dentistry, University of Dammam, Dammam, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Asim
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Al-Ansari
authors.affiliation: Department of Substitutive Dental Sciences, College of Dentistry, University of Dammam, Dammam, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Fahad
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Al-Harbi
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Dentistry and Dental Public Health, Faculty of Dentistry, Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt.
authors.forename: Wafaa
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: AbdelAziz
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Dental Sciences, College of Dentistry, University of Dammam, Dammam, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Maha
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: AbdelSalam
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive Dental Sciences, College of Dentistry, University of Dammam, Dammam, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Maha M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: El Tantawi
authors.affiliation: In Private Practice, Cairo, Egypt.
authors.forename: Ismail
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: ElRefae
keywords: Dental schools; Dental students; Extra-curricular activities; Social participation; Sports; Volunteers