Sleep disturbance and its effect on academic performance among students of a medical college of Tripura

Abstract

Background: Sleep deprivation may have grave health consequences; resulting in increasing disease morbidity and mortality. Sleep disturbance have also been affected academic performance of medical students. The objective of the study was to find out the prevalence of sleep disturbance and association between sleep disturbance and academic performance of medical students, if any.Methods: An institution based cross-sectional study was conducted in the month of March 2018 among 203 medical students of Tripura Medical College and Dr. B.R.A.M. Teaching Hospital. Probability Proportionate to Sample Size (PPS) was used to determine the number of students required from each semester. Students selected by simple random sampling from each semester were interviewed by a pre-designed, pre-tested interview schedule designed based on Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index. Data was represented in percentages in tables, charts and Chi square test was applied. P<0.05 was considered statistically significant.Results: Mean age of the medical student was 21.36±1.96 years. Present study showed, 57% students were complaining of disturbed sleep. Students who felt sleepy during daytime (72.4%) were struggling more during exam compared to students not feeling sleepy (51.7%), which was statistically significant. Study revealed, students who got average mark in last semester exam were most affected with disturbed sleep (66.3%) followed by students who got good marks (53.5%) and poor marks (50%).Conclusions: Prevalence of sleep disturbance was very high among medical students. Male students were much more affected compared to female students. Sleep disturbance has also affected academic performance of students.