Title: THE ROLE OF CIRCADIAN RHYTHMS AMONG MEDICAL STUDENTS IN TIME MANAGEMENT ORGANIZATION AND ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT
Abstract:Time management is one of the biggest problems of medical students. In this study, we examined the circadian rhythms of medical students and factors which may affect academic performance: perceived st...Time management is one of the biggest problems of medical students. In this study, we examined the circadian rhythms of medical students and factors which may affect academic performance: perceived stress, sleep quality, time management. Students answered a Morningness-Eveningness questionnaire, the Time Management Personal Assessment questionnaire, the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), and the Perceived Stress Scale questionnaire. The correlation (R=0.87) between chronotype and GPA (P<0.001) showed a higher GPA in students with morning chronotypes. The PSQI analysis demonstrated 47% of the students had poor sleep quality; a correlation (R= - 0.56) between the PSQI and GPA (p< 0.04), supporting a link between higher GPA and good sleep. Results also showed a correlation (R=0.59) between time management and GPA (p< 0.01), implying that the students with excellent time management skills (17%) had excellent GPAs. Chronotypes, quality of sleep and time management, influence GPA and can be used as a guidance tool for academic advisors.Read More