Nursing and medical student's studying and learning approaches

One important factor in education, particularly in medical education is studying and learning approaches. Considering student's learning styles may change teaching methods in accordance with their learning styles and consequently improve the educational outcome. The aim of this study was to investigate learning styles of medical students in Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences This descriptive study was performed during the academic year of 2009-2010 in Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences. 182 Nursing and medical students were selected through multi-stage cluster random sampling method as study samples. ASSIA questionnaire was used as the research tool. Data was analyzed by SPSS-15 software using descriptive and inferential statistics. The most preferable one among medical students were deep approach (40.2%) and nursing students were strategic approach (45%). At the clinical stages, use of deep approach to the study of medical students increased and the surface approach is significantly reduced. There is weakly correlation between GPA and deep and strategic approaches, that was significant only for strategic approach (r=o.161, p=0.033). Improving educational quality requires for paying attention to learning style in teaching and educational technology. Teachers and educational technologists are recommended to make use of media and various technologies.