STUDY HABITS AND ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE AMONG UNDERGRADUATE NURSING STUDENTS IN KARACHI: A DESCRIPTIVE CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY

Abstract

Background: Study habits are important factors that influence students' academic success. Good study habits like managing time, taking notes, reviewing what was learned, and participating in learning activities help students achieve better academic performance. Nursing students especially need to keep learning and studying in a way that works for them so they can meet the standards that nursing education requires. Nursing education is about continuous learning and using effective study practices to maintain high academic standards. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional design was used. The sample size was 167. An adapted questionnaire was used from Alex et al. (2024). The "Study Habits Scale-Student Form" and the students' Grade Point Average (GPA) were used. Data were obtained through a Google Form questionnaire at a private institute in Karachi. Data were entered and analyzed using SPSS version 27. Results: The majority of students were male (89.2%, n=149) and aged 18–23 years (58.1%, n=97). The majority of students (93.4%, n=156) had good study habits, while (6.6%, n=11) had poor study habits. Regarding academic performance, 78.4% (n=131) of students achieved a GPA of 3.50–4.00. Cross-tabulation showed that 73.7% (n=123) of students with good study habits achieved the highest GPA, compared to only 4.8% (n=8) with poor study habits. A moderate positive correlation was found between total study habits score and GPA (r = 0.52). The study habits scale showed good internal consistency (Cronbach’s α = 0.84). Conclusion: The study found that good study habits positively influence academic performance among undergraduate nursing students in Karachi. Nursing students who regularly manage their time, review lessons, write down notes, and maintain regular study routines tend to achieve better academic results. Encouraging effective study habits can lead to better academic results and professional competence among undergraduate nursing students.