Sleep patterns and predictors of poor sleep quality among Tunisian medical students (MS).

Abstract

Sleep disorders and poor sleep quality are important issues for MS. Aim: to determine sleep patterns and risk factors of poor sleep quality among Tunisian MS. Methods: a cross sectional study using an anonymous self-administered questionnaire was conducted among students at Medical university of Sousse during October-November 2017. The questionnaire was administered during the obligatory supervised teaching sessions. The sleep quality was based on the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). Results: A total of 310 students were enrolled (response rate 79%). Among them, 232 (74.8%) were female. Mean age was 21.56±1.68 years. About two thirds of MS were in clinical phase. Sleep onset latency and sleep duration mean were respectively 23.8±24.8 minutes and 6.9±1.3 hours. One hundred and twenty (38.7%) MS slept less than 7 hours and 58 (18.7%) slept after midnight. Moreover, 94 (30.3%) respondents reported fairly bad to very bad sleep quality. Mean PSQI score was 5.8±2.9. Poor sleep quality (PSQI ≥8) was reported by 76 (24.6%) students. Going to sleep late and shorter sleep duration were identified in univariate analysis as predictors of poor sleep quality (p= 0.001 and p Conclusion: Sleep disturbances and poor sleep quality are very common among medical students. Sleep duration was identified as the sole independent factor of poor sleep quality.