Assessment of Time Management Skills among Final Year Undergraduate Nursing Students at Public Teaching Institutes in Peshawar, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa: A Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

Background and aim: Effective Time management is crucial for academic success and professional efficiency among undergraduate nursing students. Effective time management enables students to balance academic, clinical, and personal responsibilities, thus improving overall performance, wellbeing and reducing stress. The aim of this study was to assess the level of time management skills among final year undergraduate nursing students at public teaching institutes in Peshawar, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK). Objective: The objectives of this study was to assess the time management skills of final year undergraduate nursing students at public teaching institutes of nursing in Peshawar, KPK. Methodology:  A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted from September to November 2025. A total of 122 participants were selected from a population of 200 final year undergraduate nursing students enrolled in three public teaching institutes of Peshawar (LRH, KTH, and HMC). Data were collected using a standardized and validated adopted Time Management Questionnaire, which included sections on demographic data and components of time management (time planning, time attitude, and time wasters). Data were analyzed using SPSS version 27. Descriptive and inferential statistics including independent t test, correlation, and one way ANOVA were applied to check relationships and differences between variables.  Results: A total of 122 students participated in the study, comprising both males and females from three public nursing institutes. The results revealed no significant difference in time management skills among students from LRH, KTH, and HMC, and also no significant difference was found between male and female students. However, a very weak positive correlation was found between the total time management score, total time planning score, and CGPA, though it was not statistically significant. A weak but significant positive correlation was observed between the time attitude component and CGPA, while a negative correlation was found between the time waster component and CGPA, which was also not statistically significant. Conclusion: The findings indicated that there was no significant difference in time management skills among final year undergraduate nursing students across gender or institutions. Overall, time management skills did not show a significant relationship with academic performance, although time management components such as time planning, time attitude and time wasters demonstrated weak correlations with CGPA while time attitude component demonstrated significant relationship with time management. The study suggests that structured time management training and guidance could help enhance academic performance among nursing students.