[01] Ng Sze Shuen, Faculty of Medicine, Manipal University College Malaysia, Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE), Melaka, Malaysia. [02] Vinuri Upeka Goonesinghe, Faculty of Medicine, Manipal University College Malaysia, Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE), Melaka, Malaysia. [03] Deniz Chua Wen Le, Faculty of Medicine, Manipal University College Malaysia, Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE), Melaka, Malaysia. [04] Daarshiny a/p Sreedran, Faculty of Medicine, Manipal University College Malaysia, Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE), Melaka, Malaysia. [05] Soliapan a/l Jayaram, Faculty of Medicine, Manipal University College Malaysia, Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE), Melaka, Malaysia. [06] Lihini Devanga Weeraratne, Faculty of Medicine, Manipal University College Malaysia, Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE), Melaka, Malaysia.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, many colleges and universities in Malaysia have undergone transitions from classroom teaching to online teaching due to the lockdown and campus closure. Therefore, there is an emergence of the tendency to procrastinate which can lead to detrimental impact on the students. The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between procrastination and achievement motivation as well as the other related variables among students of MUCM during the lockdown. This cross-sectional study was conducted among all MBBS and BDS students of Manipal University College Malaysia (n=153) from January 2021 to March 2021. An online questionnaire was distributed and a total of 159 responses were received. The Ray-Lynn AO scale which consists of 14 items and the Lay procrastination scale which consists of 20 items were used after getting institutional ethical approval. Statistical tests (Unpaired t-test, ANOVA test and correlation) were done using Epi Info software (version 7.2.4.0). High procrastination score (≥62) was seen among 20.1% of the students, moderate procrastination score (56-61) was found among 23.3% of the students and low procrastination score (≤55) was found among 56.6% of the students. Findings revealed that there were significant associations between gender and procrastination (P=0.046), ethnicity and procrastination (P=0.289), parental education level and procrastination (P=0.198) as well as extracurricular involvement and procrastination (P=0.001). However, achievement motivation was found to be negatively correlated with procrastination (r=-0.56 and P < 0.001).

Procrastination, Achievement Motivation, COVID-19 Pandemic, Undergraduate Medical Students, Cross-sectional Study, Malaysia

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