sleep quality and association with academic performance among fourth year medical students at zagazig university

Abstract

Background: Sleep is a physiological process that ensures normal functioning for human beings. Deprivation and poor quality of sleep are most predominant among medical students because of the continuous stress and anxiety from the condensed medical curricula, multiple evaluations, and fear of failure. Aim& objectives: This study aimed to promote academic performance among medical students at Zagazig University. This aim was achieved through the following objectives: assessing the prevalence of sleep disorders among clinical years medical students and assessing the relationship between sleep disorders and academic performance. Methods: A cross-sectional study was performed at the faculty of medicine, Zagazig University using an arabic translated Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQ) questionnaire, academic performance was assessed with a self-reported grade point average (GPA) in the last year. Results: A total of 278 fourth-year medical students were interviewed and had comprehensive data on demography, lifestyle, academic performance, and sleep quality. Poor sleep prevalence was 25.5%. There was a statistically significant difference among the poor sleepers’ group and good sleepers’ group regarding physical activity and (Grade point average) GPA. Conclusion: Poor sleep quality may adversely affect GPA as well, inducing a vicious cycle. Moreover, the sleep disturbances rate among medical students has to be a reason for intervention.