Effects of Sleep Quality on the Academic Performance of Undergraduate Medical Students

Medical students are exposed to a significant level of pressure because of their academic demands. Thus, they are at increased risk for sleep disorders. This study was conducted to examine the prevalence of sleep disturbance among medical students and investigate any relationship between sleep disorder and academic performance. This work is a cross-sectional questionnaire-based study. Participants of this study consisted of first-, second-, and third-year medical students. The Pittsburgh sleep quality index (PSQI) was adopted to identify sleep disorder, and the grade point average of the students was recorded for academic performance. A total of 177 respondents, with a response rate of 55%, were obtained. According to the PSQI score, 36.6% of participants were considered to have abnormal sleep habits, with a statistically significant increase in female students (P < 0.05). Abnormal PSQI scores were associated with lower academic achievement (P < 0.05). Marital status, habitat, smoking and physical activity were also associated with PSQI scores. A high prevalence of sleep disorder was found in this population, specifically among female students. Analysis of the relationship between sleep disorder and academic performance indicates a significant relationship of PSQI scores with marital status, habitat, smoking, physical activity, and academic performance.