The relationship between sleep and wake habits and academic performance in medical students: a cross-sectional study

BMC Medical Education

Research Article

Aljohara S Almeneessier¹  Abdulrahman M Alaseem²  Abdulmajeed A Alzakri²  Munir M Sharif²  Ahmed S BaHammam² 

[1] Department of Family and Community Medicine, College of Medicine, King Saud University, Box 225503, 11324, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia;University Sleep Disorders Center, King Saud University, Box 225503, 11324, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia;

关键词: Sleep;    Sleep duration;    Medical students;    Academic performance;    School;   

DOI  :  10.1186/1472-6920-12-61

 received in 2012-03-21, accepted in 2012-07-30,  发布年份 2012

来源: Springer

【 摘 要 】

BackgroundThe relationship between the sleep/wake habits and the academic performance of medical students is insufficiently addressed in the literature. This study aimed to assess the relationship between sleep habits and sleep duration with academic performance in medical students.MethodsThis study was conducted between December 2009 and January 2010 at the College of Medicine, King Saud University, and included a systematic random sample of healthy medical students in the first (L1), second (L2) and third (L3) academic levels. A self-administered questionnaire was distributed to assess demographics, sleep/wake schedule, sleep habits, and sleep duration. Daytime sleepiness was evaluated using the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS). School performance was stratified as “excellent” (GPA ≥3.75/5) or “average” (GPA <3.75/5).ResultsThe final analysis included 410 students (males: 67%). One hundred fifteen students (28%) had “excellent” performance, and 295 students (72%) had “average” performance. The “average” group had a higher ESS score and a higher percentage of students who felt sleepy during class. In contrast, the “excellent” group had an earlier bedtime and increased TST during weekdays. Subjective feeling of obtaining sufficient sleep and non-smoking were the only independent predictors of “excellent” performance.ConclusionDecreased nocturnal sleep time, late bedtimes during weekdays and weekends and increased daytime sleepiness are negatively associated with academic performance in medical students.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© BaHammam et al.; licensee BioMed Central Ltd. 2012