Sleep Pattern and Sleep Duration of Medical College Students

Objective: To determine general sleep patterns and sleep duration of medical college students. Study Design: Cross sectional study Place and duration: 1st October, 2010 to 30th December, 2010 Materials and Methods: This descriptive study was a survey of students from first year to fourth year MBBS class. Two hundred students voluntarily participated in this study after being explained the nature of the survey. Purposive sampling technique was applied. Questions were asked about their bed time, wake-up time during weekdays and weekends. Students were further asked about study timings and sleep pattern during examination. Results: Results of the study showed that 70% of students during weekdays went to bed after 12:00am. 82% went to bed after 2:00 am during weekends. Duration of sleep of 75% of students was less than six hours during weekdays. 40% of students remained awake the whole night just before examinations. Conclusion: Health Education program regarding duration and quality of sleep should be emphasized in colleges to increase the awareness of students about the importance of adopting healthy sleeping habits, thus leading to improved quality of life and academic performance of our students.