Medical student characteristics associated with time in study: Is spending more time always a good thing?

BACKGROUND: Time in study may reflect motivation, but may also reflect inefficient study habits. PURPOSE: To determine how time in study relates to motivation and study approaches. METHODS: A total of 173 fourth- and fifth-year students in a six-year curriculum completed diaries over seven consecutive days. Time studying was correlated with motivation and approaches to study. RESULTS: Time in study correlated with achieving motive, achieving strategy, deep strategy, motivation and planning/organisation. Deep motive correlated with time on assignments. Students who were less certain they wanted to work as a doctor undertook less study activity and spent less time with patients. Students who lacked confidence they would make a good doctor spent more time in non-timetabled discretionary study but also spent less time with patients. CONCLUSION: A desire to achieve, certainty of career choice and lack of confidence are associated with time in study. Unconfident students divert their time away from patients.