ABSTRACT
Background: current knowledge suggests that students approach their study in surface, deep or strategic manners. The knowledge of students' approaches to study, and the factors that affect their choice are important for curriculum planners as well as nurse and midwife educators
Purpose: the aim of this study was to investigate the approaches to study of nursing and midwifery baccalaureate students at Fatemeh School of Nursing, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences using the Approaches and Study Skills Inventory for Students
Methods: a questionnaire containing a number of questions regarding the demographic characteristics and the validated Persian translation of the inventory was administered to all nursing and midwifery students
Results: a significantly higher numbers of students adopted deep approach. There was a significant negative correlation between the stage of study and the use of surface approach by midwifery students. Moreover. There was a significantly positive correlation between the level of interest in the field of study and the use of strategic approach for nursing and midwifery students. The grade point averages of nursing students were positively correlated with their use of deep or strategic approaches
Conclusion: this study showed the majority of nursing and midwifery students were using deep approach to learning. It also showed that in higher years these students tended to use deep or strategic approach. Moreover, it demonstrated that there was a positive correlation between students' levels of interest or grade point averages and the adoption of deep or strategic approaches