A Comparative Study to Assess the Health Status and Academic Progress among Day Scholars and Hostellers in a Selected College of Nursing in New Delhi

Abstract

Students are considered as the most potential unit of future human resources in a country like ours, which relies greatly on its human resources strength. Hostel is a place where usually students live in a supervised environment. Students come from distant places to earn their degree. Hostel life has a great impact on the academic achievement and health status of the students. However, day scholars live with their parents and do not come across issues such as unappetizing food, hostel ragging and home sickness, but they surely do envy the freedom and independence of their hostel buddies. The objectives of the study were to assess the health status and academic progress among day scholars and hostellers and to compare the health status and academic progress among day scholars and hostellers. A quantitative research approach was adopted using comparative survey design. There were 50 students who were divided into hostellers (n1 =25) and day scholars (n2 =25). A self-report rating scale to assess the health status and academic progress was used for data collection. Result reveals that 100% day scholars are good in their health status whereas 92% hostellers are good and 8% are moderate in their health status and also reveals that 84% hostellers are good and 16% are moderate in their academic progress whereas 80% day scholars are good and 20% are moderate in their academic progress. Through this research study, we have found out that those students staying at home have better health status because of the parental care, healthy food and safe drinking water, whereas those students staying in the hostel have good academic progress due to less time of travel, participation in group study and help from other fellow hostel mates. Therefore, nursing administrations should provide students with good health education, guidance and counselling to help them in time management and cope with stressors in nursing colleges.