Sleep habits of first year and final year female MBBS students

Abstract

Introduction Medical education and training is taxing and may lead to different psychosocial stressors, behavioral problems, drug abuse and changes of lifestyles in medical students. Objectives: The present study was conducted in first year and final year female students to determine their sleep habits. Study Design: It was a cross- sectional study with one year (March 2010-March 2011) duration. Setting: Study was carried out in Islamic International Medical College Rawalpindi and IIMC-T Railway General Hospital Rawalpindi. Subjects and methods: A total number of 30 female MBBS students were randomly selected and were divided into two groups. Group ˝A˝ was comprised of 15 female students from first year and Group “B” was consisted of 15 female students from final year class. Their sleep habits were assessed by sleep questionnaire. Results: Most of the First year female students (93.33) reported normal duration of sleep as compared to final year female students but they experienced more sleep difficulties like increased number of awakenings at night (P≤0.002) as well as less dream remembering. Conclusions: This study indicates that the first year female medical students have decreased quality of sleep and have more sleep difficulties as compared to final year students.