MEMORY AND CONCENTRATION SKILLS AMONG HORUS UNIVERSITY MEDICAL STUDENTS AND ITS ASSOCIATED FACTORS

Abstract

Hamada Zehry*, Mohamed Salah El-Sayed, Mohamed Atef Elkholy, Lashin Saad Ali, Hanan Abdelrahman, Mohamed Ahmed Abdelmonem Ahmed Rabea, Zahra Elhady Ibrahim, Eman Elsayed Mansour, Ekram Mohamed Mohamed Saleh, Mahmoud Mohamed, Mahmoud Mohamed Mahmoud Galal, Ali Soliman Gawiesh, Soheir khaled Rashad Naggary, Shams Mosaad Ellithy, Aya Elsayed Amer, Youssef Mohamed Mohamed Saleh and Nada Mohamed El-Hadidy

Introduction: This study investigates the association between memory and concentration skills with sociodemographic characteristics, study hours, and sleep hours among undergraduate medical students at Horus University.

Objectives: To assess the relationship between memory and concentration skills and factors such as age, sex, governorate, residence, faculty, study hours, and sleep hours.

Methods: An epidemiological, observational, descriptive, cross-sectional study was conducted with 817 undergraduate medical students. Data were collected via an online questionnaire and analyzed using SPSS version 27. Memory and concentration skills were assessed using a modified Study Skills Inventory (SSI). Statistical analyses included the Mann-Whitney test, chi-square test, and Spearman correlation.

Results: The study found that 72.2% of students had adequate memory skills, and 70.3% had adequate concentration skills. Students studying less than 3 hours per day or sleeping less than 6 hours per day were more likely to have inadequate skills. A significant positive correlation was found between memory and concentration skills (r = 0.615, p < 0.001). Conclusion: Adequate study hours (3 to 6 hours or more per day) and sufficient sleep (6 to 8 hours per day) are crucial for maintaining memory and concentration skills among medical students. These findings highlight the importance of promoting effective study habits and sleep hygiene to enhance cognitive performance.