Sleep Quality of Medical Students In Turkey During The Covid-19 Pandemic

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic had physical, social, and psychological effects on individuals. In this process, the psychological effects of the pandemic led to the need to examine the pandemic spiritually. Many studies have reported sleep problems in individuals. Sleep is important for cognitive, psychomotor, and emotional functions as well as physical health. Sleep quality is an important subject that should not be neglected in medical school students. This study aims to evaluate the sleep quality of medical students in Turkey during the pandemic.  424 students studying at Dicle University Medicine Faculty participated in the study between September-December 2020. Sociodemographic data form prepared by us, Pittsburg Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), Coronavirus Anxiety Scale (CAS) were administered. PSQI scores of the students were 6.77±3.44, STAI-S scores were 40.69±4.84, STAI-T scores were 44.97±5.82, CAS scores were 2.80±4.17. The PSQI score of 72.4% of the students was five and above. 40.8% of the students reported worsening in their sleep. Female gender, having the COVID-19 test or relatives with COVID-19 infection, spending 1 hour or more in a day associated with COVID-19, smoking, using alcohol or sedative medication, and increasing caffeine habits found risk factors for poor sleep quality. PSQI scores were positively correlated with STAI-S and CAS scores. According to our study, medical students had poor sleep quality in the pandemic. We should give more importance to students during and outside the pandemic because they are a risky group for psychological stressors due to young age, student status. Sleep quality in medical students is an important issue that needs to be addressed. Students should be informed about sleep hygiene rules, be supported in giving smoking, alcohol, and other bad habits, and psychosocial support units should be established in universities.