title: Study skills and habits in Shiraz dental students; strengths and weaknesses.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The dental students, the same as other students, during their academic courses are required to learn a wide range of scientific subjects. Obviously, choosing the inappropriate method of study leads to confuse and disenchantment of students and it causes wasting of their energy. The purpose of this study was to assess the existing strengths and weaknesses of the skills and study habits in Dental Students of Shiraz University of Medical Sciences in 2009-10.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this cross-sectional study, all of the dental students (n = 274), who studied at the time of study at all levels in the academic year of 2009-10, were selected by the census. Data were collected by using the Huston University questionnaire consisted of two parts of demographic questions and 64 specific areas of study skills in eight domains of time management, concentration/memory, study aids/note taking, test strategies, information processing, motivation, self-assessment/reading, and writing skills. Following the retranslation of the questionnaire, the validity was confirmed by using the content validity method. The reliability was obtained by using the Cronbach's Alpha of 0.92. The data were analyzed with SPSS software version 17 and using analytical statistic tests.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Students who have previously participated in the study skills workshops had stronger skills in comparison with the students who had not participated in these workshops. Time management skills (P = 0.04), motivation (P = 0.0001) and information processing (P = 0.03) in students with professional status were in a more favorable position and showed significant differences in terms of educational levels. The study skills mean score of the students living in student housings in comparison with the other students were significantly higher (P = 0.04). Marital status showed no significant differences in reading skills.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The review of study skills in the undergraduate and post-graduate dental students indicated that the residents had higher reading skills. By recognizing the existing strengths and weaknesses and holding programs through counseling centers can develop the study skills in the students.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nursing, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Quality Improvement in Clinical Education Research Center, Student Research Committee, School of Dentistry, Shiraz, Iran.
authors.forename: Ladan
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zarshenas
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthodontics, Orthodontic Research Center, School of Dentistry, Shiraz, Iran.
authors.forename: Shahla Momeni
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Danaei
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Education, School of Dentistry, Shiraz, Iran.
authors.forename: Elham
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Mazarei
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthodontics, Educational Research and Development Center, School of Dentistry, Shiraz, Iran.
authors.forename: Hooman
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zarif Najafi
authors.affiliation: Medical Education Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
authors.forename: Mahsa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Shakour
keywords: Dental students; study habits; study skills