P03-395 - Sleep quality and its correlation to general health status in health care students

Abstract

IntroductionSleep-wake cycle is one of human biological rhythm highly correlated to well being and general health status.Poor sleep quality, sleep disruption and changes in regular Sleep-wake pattern may cause physical and psychological burden such as impairment in job performance, decreased work efficiency and learning disability.ObjectiveHealth care students trained in medical, nursing and midwifery fields is a population who are at great risk to develop sleep disruption and its subsequent physical and mental morbidity.AimThe aim of this study was to describe how sleep quality correlated to general health status among 280 health care students.Methods280 health care students studying in health related fields participated in this cross section study. Pittsburg sleep quality index (PSQI), sleep- wake questionnaire and the general health questionnaire (GHQ) administered to gather data describing sleep quality, sleep wake disruption and the general health status.ResultsPreliminary results showed that 61.4% of subjects defined as poor sleeper. In further co relational analysis there was a significant correlation between sleep quality and general health status (r = .6, p = . 000, n = 280). Regression analysis showed that number of nights with sleep disruption due to shift work or academic needs was a strong predictor for both poor sleep quality and general health status.ConclusionIn conclusion, Sleep disruption due to shift work or other academic demands is a predictor for poor sleep and its subsequent mental health morbidity, which should be considered as a part of mental health policy for health related college students.