Academic procrastination among tunisian medical students: prevalence and associated factors

Introduction Medical students have to do multiple tasks as part of their extensive curriculum in order to achieve the proficiencies expected of them. Being overwhelmed creates a time management problem, substance use and a tendency to procrastinate. Therefore, accumulated tasks may generate distres...

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Main Authors: F. Sahnoun, M. Turki, A. Guermazi, O. Elleuch, M. Ksibi, N. Halouani, S. Ellouze, J. Aloulou
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Cambridge University Press 2023-03-01
Series:European Psychiatry
Online Access:https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S0924933823011707/type/journal_article
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author F. Sahnoun
M. Turki
A. Guermazi
O. Elleuch
M. Ksibi
N. Halouani
S. Ellouze
J. Aloulou
author_facet F. Sahnoun
M. Turki
A. Guermazi
O. Elleuch
M. Ksibi
N. Halouani
S. Ellouze
J. Aloulou
author_sort F. Sahnoun
collection DOAJ
description Introduction Medical students have to do multiple tasks as part of their extensive curriculum in order to achieve the proficiencies expected of them. Being overwhelmed creates a time management problem, substance use and a tendency to procrastinate. Therefore, accumulated tasks may generate distress that could result in poor academic performance. Objectives The aim of this study was to investigate prevalence and factors related to academic procrastination in Tunisian medical students. Methods It was a cross-sectional, descriptive and analytical study conducted among Tunisian medical students. Data were collected through an anonymous online questionnaire, assessing sociodemographic characteristics, the “Tuckman Procrastination Scale” (TPS) and the “Time Management Subscale of the Learning and Study Strategies Inventory” (LASSI-TM). Results A total of 133 participants completed the questionnaire. Their mean age was 26 ± 3,8 years, with a sex-ratio (F/M) of 4,5. The mean LASSI-TM score was 16.69±4.6. Among students, 65.4 % showed deficit in time management. The mean TPS score was 42.48±7.11. According to this scale, 87.2% of participants were engaged in academic procrastination. TPS score was significantly higher among psychoactive substances users (p=0.004), in those with psychiatric history (p=0.026) and in students with a rank over than 100 (p=0.029). It was negatively correlated with LASSI-TM score (p<0.001; r=-0.706). Conclusions Considering the heavy load of work that the students undergo, it would be prudent to arrange for group trainings and workshops that will cultivate students with strategies and skills for effective time management, so that the tendency to procrastinate will be managed and their academic performance would improve. Disclosure of Interest None Declared
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spelling doaj.art-b9376af1a3ab452f81894a543cf1a6f22023-11-17T05:06:00ZengCambridge University PressEuropean Psychiatry0924-93381778-35852023-03-0166S554S55510.1192/j.eurpsy.2023.1170Academic procrastination among tunisian medical students: prevalence and associated factorsF. Sahnoun0M. Turki1A. Guermazi2O. Elleuch3M. Ksibi4N. Halouani5S. Ellouze6J. Aloulou7Psychiatry B Department, Hedi Chaker University hospital, Sfax, TunisiaPsychiatry B Department, Hedi Chaker University hospital, Sfax, TunisiaPsychiatry B Department, Hedi Chaker University hospital, Sfax, TunisiaPsychiatry B Department, Hedi Chaker University hospital, Sfax, TunisiaPsychiatry B Department, Hedi Chaker University hospital, Sfax, TunisiaPsychiatry B Department, Hedi Chaker University hospital, Sfax, TunisiaPsychiatry B Department, Hedi Chaker University hospital, Sfax, TunisiaPsychiatry B Department, Hedi Chaker University hospital, Sfax, Tunisia Introduction Medical students have to do multiple tasks as part of their extensive curriculum in order to achieve the proficiencies expected of them. Being overwhelmed creates a time management problem, substance use and a tendency to procrastinate. Therefore, accumulated tasks may generate distress that could result in poor academic performance. Objectives The aim of this study was to investigate prevalence and factors related to academic procrastination in Tunisian medical students. Methods It was a cross-sectional, descriptive and analytical study conducted among Tunisian medical students. Data were collected through an anonymous online questionnaire, assessing sociodemographic characteristics, the “Tuckman Procrastination Scale” (TPS) and the “Time Management Subscale of the Learning and Study Strategies Inventory” (LASSI-TM). Results A total of 133 participants completed the questionnaire. Their mean age was 26 ± 3,8 years, with a sex-ratio (F/M) of 4,5. The mean LASSI-TM score was 16.69±4.6. Among students, 65.4 % showed deficit in time management. The mean TPS score was 42.48±7.11. According to this scale, 87.2% of participants were engaged in academic procrastination. TPS score was significantly higher among psychoactive substances users (p=0.004), in those with psychiatric history (p=0.026) and in students with a rank over than 100 (p=0.029). It was negatively correlated with LASSI-TM score (p<0.001; r=-0.706). Conclusions Considering the heavy load of work that the students undergo, it would be prudent to arrange for group trainings and workshops that will cultivate students with strategies and skills for effective time management, so that the tendency to procrastinate will be managed and their academic performance would improve. Disclosure of Interest None Declaredhttps://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S0924933823011707/type/journal_article
spellingShingle F. Sahnoun
M. Turki
A. Guermazi
O. Elleuch
M. Ksibi
N. Halouani
S. Ellouze
J. Aloulou
Academic procrastination among tunisian medical students: prevalence and associated factors
European Psychiatry
title Academic procrastination among tunisian medical students: prevalence and associated factors
title_full Academic procrastination among tunisian medical students: prevalence and associated factors
title_fullStr Academic procrastination among tunisian medical students: prevalence and associated factors
title_full_unstemmed Academic procrastination among tunisian medical students: prevalence and associated factors
title_short Academic procrastination among tunisian medical students: prevalence and associated factors
title_sort academic procrastination among tunisian medical students prevalence and associated factors
url https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S0924933823011707/type/journal_article
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