Health science students' time organization and management skills: a cross-disciplinary investigation

Abstract

One hundred and fifty-four final year health science undergraduates from the disciplines of Medical Radiation Sciences, Speech Pathology and Physiotherapy in the Faculty of Health Sciences, the University of Sydney completed the Australian Time Organisation and Management Scale (ATOMS). Findings identified the strengths and weaknesses of students on the four dimensions included in this analysis. Whilst the results indicated strengths in the area of students' sense of purpose, level of focus and goal-setting ability, areas of weakness were noted, particularly with regard to the use of basic time-management devices (e.g. use of a diary and making lists). How these skills and competences are related to age, gender and discipline is explored. In addition, the degree to which these time-management behaviours can be enhanced (eg with time management intervention programs), the generalizability of the findings to other settings (non-academic), and the development of these skills over time are major issues discussed in the paper.