Dados do Trabalho

Título

Evaluation of Sleep Quality Among Medical Students: Investigation and Implications for Academic Well-Being.

Introdução

Sleep deprivation is a common ailment among medical students due to the intense
academic demands. An ideal sleep-wake cycle, alternating between NREM and REM
stages, typically features a 90-120 minute NREM phase. However, in sleep-deprived
individuals, this period is drastically reduced to 20-30 minutes, leading to short- and
long-term physical and cognitive repercussions. This study examines the sleep quality of
medical students, investigating these implications and their consequences.

Objetivo

This study aims to assess the impact of sleep deprivation on the lives of medical students
from a private medical school in the state of Rio de Janeiro.

Métodos

The study participants were medical students in the 1st and 5th periods, totaling 70 students.
All participants read and agreed to the informed consent form. Data collection was
conducted through an online self-report questionnaire from March to April 2024, comprising
35 questions, including the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), which considers a score >
5 indicative of poor sleep quality. The results were analyzed in absolute and relative terms
and organized into graphs and tables using Excel.

Resultados

The participants, with a mean age of 22.25 years (SD ±6.98), revealed a concerning level of
poor sleep quality: 81.43% had PSQI scores > 5. Approximately 45.7% reported taking more
than 30 minutes to fall asleep at least once a week. The ability to maintain enthusiasm for
daily activities was impaired in 88.6% of the students. The use of psychostimulants to
enhance academic performance was observed in 14.28% of cases. Regarding sleep
medications, 51.2% did not use them, while 48.8% resorted to them 1 to 3 times per week.

Conclusões

Students using psychostimulants exhibited PSQI scores indicative of poor sleep quality.
Anxiety, depression, and reduced immunity demonstrated a significant relationship with
sleep deprivation, identified as a limiting factor in academic performance, daily activities, and
physical health. Therefore, it is imperative to implement interventions aimed at improving
sleep quality among medical students, emphasizing the necessity for physicians to care for
themselves as well as their patients.

Palavras -chave

Medical student, Sleep, Deprivation, Outcome.