EVALUATION OF SLEEP QUALITY INDEX IN POSTGRADUATE MEDICAL STUDENTS IN INDIA

Abstract

Background: Sleep quality is dened as the satisfaction of the sleep experience, integrating aspects of sleep initiation, sleep maintenance, sleep quantity, and refreshment upon awakening. It is important to measure sleep quality in postgraduate medical students and this study aims to monitor it across the various years of the course. Methodology: A cross-sectional study involving medical postgraduates students at the Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences and Research & Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital, New Delhi was conducted. All rst- to third-year postgraduate students were invited to participate. It was a self rated questionnaire based study using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). Results: Poor sleep quality as observed using raised global PSQI of more than 5 was seen in 104 students (74%). Of this, 39 students belonged to third year (88.6%), 37 students were from second year (74%) and 28 students were from rst year (59.6%). Only 26% of students showed an adequate sleep quality with global PSQI <5.The mean global PSQI scores for students in rst, second and third year were 6.2, 6.6 and 7.8 respectively reecting that third year students were most affected. Conclusion: Postgraduate medical students have more sleep disturbance with impaired sleep quality. Sleep quality has a strong inuence on physical and mental health. Active intervention is required to improve sleep hygiene in these students.