Dev Himanshubhai Desa*, Maharshi Patel and Alpesh Patel
Introduction: To investigate various sleeping habits and problems related to sleep encountered by population of undergraduate medical students studying in 1st and 2nd professional years of Medical College.
Methods: Sleeping practices & related problems of the subject population were examined using a convenience sample of 166 UG students. A modified PSQI questionnaire was used. Each subject’s responses were analyzed using 7 components and were each given a score which were summed and could theoretically range from 0 to 21 to predict insomnia.
Results: The target population studied showed a mean PSQI score of 6.19. 117 showed subthreshold insomnia, 48 showed moderately severe clinical insomnia, and 1 showed severe clinical insomnia. Overall volunteers showed restricted sleep with only 25% volunteers reporting more than 7 hours sleep. 91% of the volunteers reported some kind of regular sleep disturbance. All volunteers showed some form of sleep latency (negligible to intermediate) though none reported high levels. 79% of volunteers showed sleep efficiency more than 85% whereas, only 5% volunteers reported using sleeping medication during the previous month. Almost 77% reported some form of daytime dysfunction.
Conclusion: These findings indicate that deficient sleep and non-uniform sleep wake patterns, which are universally reported in the adolescent and young adult populations, are equally documented among the medical student population as well. Given the strong correlation amidst the caliber of sleep and bodily as well as mental wellbeing, psychoeducational initiatives for sleep disturbances in the studied populace are recommended, all the while being advocated urgently.
