Factors Associated with Student Attrition in the First Years of Health Careers: A Systematic Review of Interventions and Retention Strategies.

Abstract

Research on student dropout in the first years of health careers addresses academic, psychosocial and economic factors that affect student retention, conducted a systematic review of interventions and strategies implemented in universities in Spain and Latin America, in which its methodology included the collection and analysis of relevant studies that highlighted the importance of tutoring and mentoring programs, which improve the academic and social integration of students (Zaldua et al., 2024).

The relevance of literacy and psychological counseling to develop coping skills was emphasized (Calderón Cruz, 2022; Palma and Barcia, 2020). Their discussion covered the need for curricular adjustments, such as flexible scheduling and reduced academic load, which have been shown to improve retention (Contreras, 2021; Moreno et al., 2023).

Finally, it was concluded that financial support programs are essential, especially in contexts with economic limitations (Cárdenas and Díaz, 2021). The research proposes a comprehensive approach that contemplates the diverse needs of students, suggesting that universities should conduct continuous evaluations of their retention strategies and explore the biases that contribute to attrition, which will allow the development of more effective and equitable interventions.