Reading Habits and Skills among Students: a Case Study of Babol University of Medical Sciences

Introduction: One factor affecting the development and improvement of students' educational achievement is their reading habits and skills. This study aimed at determining the reading habits and skills among students majoring in Babol University of Medical Sciences (BUMS). Methods: This descriptive-analytical research was a cross-sectional survey conducted among all students majoring in BUMS in academic year of 2015-2016. Of them, 226 students were selected randomly from different colleges. PSSHI reading skills questionnaire was used for data collection and independent sample t-test and ANOVA were used for data analysis. Results: Students' reading habits and skills were in moderate level and somewhat appropriate (M=62.83). Reading habits were significantly different among students with different academic years (p=026), last term grade point averages (p=.002), the colleges (p= .001) and academic levels (p=.001). Conclusions: Students' reading habits and skills in BUMS was in moderate level and somewhat appropriate, but distance from ideal point. Therefore, new approaches are needed for encouraging more reading and creating appropriate reading skills among students.