Dados do Trabalho

Título

ASSESSMENT OF SLEEP QUALITY IN MEDICAL STUDENTS FROM THE STATE OF TOCANTINS

Introdução

Adequate sleep is essential for maintaining overall health, including mental, physical, and cognitive well-being. However, the academic demands faced by students often disrupt this balance, making it difficult to manage both personal and academic responsibilities effectively. This stress can lead to an increased vulnerability to sleep disorders, which in turn negatively affect health and academic performance.

Objetivo

This study aims to evaluate the sleep quality of medical students, identify potential sleep-related issues, and propose strategies to enhance their well-being and academic outcomes.

Métodos

A cross-sectional study was conducted using an online questionnaire created by the researchers, distributed to 63 medical students between May and July 2024. Participants included medical students of all academic years and genders, with students from other institutions excluded. Recruitment was carried out via social media, accompanied by an electronic consent form. The questionnaire collected sociodemographic data (age, gender, weight, height, marital status, academic year), information on residence type, weekly study hours, and incorporated the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS), Berlin Questionnaire, and Stop-Bang Questionnaire. A literature review was performed using the Snowball technique, starting with the NIH PubMed database, including articles published between 1999 and 2024 in Portuguese, English, or Spanish, excluding irrelevant studies. A total of 15 articles were selected.

Resultados

The findings indicate that many students struggle with maintaining quality sleep and staying awake during daytime activities. A significant percentage reported a high likelihood of dozing off while sitting, reading, or watching television. Notably, 95% of participants slept less than 8 hours per night and frequently experienced daytime fatigue. Literature suggests that these sleep difficulties may be linked to increased anxiety, impaired memory and cognition, and deteriorating academic performance and mental health.

Conclusões

There is a critical need for stress management programs and initiatives that promote healthy sleep habits. The implementation of sleep hygiene workshops and psychological support services is recommended to improve the quality of life and academic performance of medical students. Future research should continue to investigate this issue.

Palavras -chave

Sono, Estudantes de Medicina, Qualidade do Sono, Desempenho Acadêmico, Saúde Mental