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University of Baghdad
College of medicine
Done by:
Students’ Names:
I certify that this research project was performed by the students
whose names are listed above under my supervision
Supervisor
Prof. Dr Suhad Saeb Meejbil
Subjects Page no.
Abstract 1
Result 2
Introduction 3
Sleep 5
Sleeping disorders 7
Medical study environment and sleep 9
Contents
disorders triggers
Results 11
Discussion 17
Conclusion 19
Recommendation 20
References 22
Questionnaire 25
Abstract
Background:
Sleep problems are highly prevalent in the general population, with medical
students being particularly vulnerable. Research indicates that the prevalence of
sleep disturbances among medical students is significantly higher than that of their
non-medical peers (1). This can be attributed to multiple factors, including prolonged
study hours, emotional stress, lifestyle habits, and extensive use of stimulants(2).
Based on these observations, the current study aims to evaluate the intricate
relationships between sleep deprivation, sleep quality, and daytime sleepiness with
key factors such as quality of life, perceptions of the academic environment, and
symptoms of depression and anxiety.
Objective:
The objective of this study is to investigate the prevalence and types of sleep
disorders among medical students, as well as to examine the relationship between
sleep patterns, academic performance, and associated health outcomes within this
population.
Methods:
• Study Population: This study included medical students in the Medical
College of Baghdad University from the first grade to the sixth grade.
• Inclusion criteria: 6 grades during 2024
• Exclusion criteria: students from other non-medical universities.
• Study design: Convenient sampling technique
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• Operational definition: in this study, Sleep deprivation will be defined as
obtaining less than 5 hours of sleep per night on average, as measured by
students themselves.
• Sampling Technique: convenient sample
• Sample size: 432
• Data Collection: By using a research questionnaire through an online forum.
• Analysis Plan: A descriptive study. Tables, graphs, and calculations will be
done by IBM SPSS Statistics 20. Data were analyzed for the significance by
using Chi-Square test, when p-value below than 0.05 it is considered as
statistically significant.
• Human subject protection and Ethical approval: Anonymity and voluntary
participation would protect human subjects in this study. Only those who were
interested fill out the questionnaire at their convenience and in a private,
confidential setting. Also, the study didn't discuss issues which considered
ethically critical in our society.
Result:
432 medical students' were analyzed from Collages Of Medicine with highest
representation in the fourth stage (28.9%), they were aged 18-22 (70.8%) with a
gender distribution (63.9% female and 36.1% male). According to the SLEEP
questionnaire approximately 26.5% rated their sleep as poor, indicating
considerable dissatisfaction among a substantial portion of the sample.
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Introduction:
Adequate sleep is essential for mental and physical well-being, yet chronic sleep
deprivation is strongly linked to impaired neurobehavioral functioning (1). Sleep
problems affect a significant portion of the general population, with approximately
one-third of adults reporting insomnia (2). A global survey conducted in 10 countries
revealed that 32.6% of primary care patients experience insomnia, a prevalence
consistent across diverse populations (3).
Insomnia
Sleep-disordered breathing (e.g., sleep apnea)
Hypersomnolence (e.g., narcolepsy)
Circadian rhythm disorders (e.g., Delayed sleep phase syndrome)
Parasomnias
And Sleep-related movement disorders (6).
Notably, women are more likely than men to suffer from insomnia, with a
reported ratio of 4:1 (7).
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Management of sleep disorders involves both non-pharmacological and
pharmacological approaches.
Despite the significant impact of sleep disorders, their prevalence among college
students remains under-researched. Understanding the relationship between sleep
problems and factors like gender, race, and academic performance is crucial. (10)
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Sleep
Sleep, which is defined as a transitory state during which individuals are unable to
actively interact with their surroundings (11), plays a key role in people’s well-being.
Its macrostructure can be divided into the rapid eye movement (REM) phase and
three stages of non-REM.
(NREM) sleep: N1, N2, and N3. In the absence of any sleep disorders, N1 acts as a
transition between sleep and wake states, paving the way for N2 and, finally, N3,
as sleep deepens. In the final and most active phase of the sleep cycle, i.e., the
REM phase, bursts of rapid eye movements occur, along with distinct temporal
patterns and brain-wave interactions (12). This is referred to as sleep
architecture.(pic.1)
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Sleep and wake states are generated by intrinsic neural networks and regulated by
circadian mechanisms. The initiation and maintenance of sleep require the
suppression of ascending arousal systems that promote wakefulness. Extracellular
adenosine increases throughout the awake period, and rising levels signal shifts
toward sleep. The adenosine activates inhibitory neurons of the ventrolateral pre-
optic area of the brain and serves as a sleep switch (14).
Circadian rhythms are the physical, mental, and behavioral changes an organism
experiences over a 24-hour cycle.
Light and dark have the biggest influence on circadian rhythms, but food intake,
stress, physical activity, social environment, and temperature also affect them.
Most living things have circadian rhythms, including animals, plants, and
microorganisms. In humans, nearly every tissue and organ has its own circadian
rhythm, and collectively they are tuned to the daily cycle of day and night.
Circadian rhythms influence important functions in the human body, such as: Sleep
patterns hormone release, appetite and digestion, and temperature.(15)
The system that regulates an organism’s innate sense of time and controls circadian
rhythms is called a biological clock.
It’s composed of proteins encoded by thousands of genes that switch on and off in
a specific order.(16) A master clock coordinates all the biological clocks in an
organism. In vertebrate animals, including humans, the master clock exists in the
brain. The human master clock is a large group of nerve cells that form a structure
called the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN).
Among other functions, the SCN controls production of the hormone melatonin
based on the amount of light the eyes receive. In the evening, a person’s master
clock tells their brain to make more melatonin, causing sleepiness. The SCN also
synchronizes the circadian rhythms in different organs and tissues across the body
(17).
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Sleeping disorders
Sleep disorders are a group of conditions that disturb sleep architecture, affecting
both the quantity and quality of sleep (18). These disorders can occur during sleep
(e.g., parasomnias) or during the day. Several factors can disrupt the sleep cycle,
such as caffeine consumption, light exposure, noise, or an irregular sleep schedule.
Each factor can lead to a specific sleep disorder.
For instance, not adhering to a consistent sleep schedule can result in sleep-wake
disorders, which manifest as impaired evening function, excessive sleepiness, or
sleep-maintenance insomnia characterized by early morning awakenings. In
contrast, delayed sleep-wake phase disorder involves difficulty initiating sleep
before the early morning hours, leading to delayed wake-up times and symptoms
of severe sleep-onset insomnia accompanied by excessive daytime sleepiness
Investigators have characterized insomnia as a disorder of hyperarousal that
manifests as hypervigilance during the day and difficulty initiating and maintaining
sleep at night.(30)
Caffeine consumption also impacts sleep quality. Regular intake can shift rapid eye
movement (REM) sleep to the early part of the night and stages 3 and 4 sleep to the
later part, reducing overall sleep quality. Additionally, caffeine consumption alters
subjective perceptions of sleep characteristics in a dose-dependent manner (20).
Each sleep phase is associated with specific disorders. For example, nightmare
disorder and recurrent isolated sleep paralysis are REM parasomnias that cause
significant distress. Nightmare disorder involves repeated nightmares with vivid
and distressing dream content remembered upon awakening. This can lead to a fear
of returning to sleep, particularly in individuals with psychiatric or stress-related
disorders (21). Non-REM disorders, such as sleepwalking and sleep terrors, range in
cause from developmental phenomena in children to aggressive or injurious motor
behaviors in individuals of all ages (21).
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Circadian Rhythm Disorders
Exogenous circadian rhythm disorders, such as shift work disorder (SWD), occur
when the circadian system becomes misaligned with work schedules. Short-term
effects of circadian rhythm misalignment include drowsiness, poor coordination,
and difficulty concentrating. Long-term misalignment can lead to serious health
issues, including obesity, diabetes, mood disorders, cardiovascular problems, and
even cancer, as well as exacerbating pre-existing conditions.(24)
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Medical study environment and sleep disorders triggers
The social status acquired during academic studies plays a crucial role in shaping a
person’s career trajectory (25). University life, particularly for medical students, is
often described as one of the most stressful periods due to the immense
psychological and academic demands. The stress levels among medical students
are significantly higher than those experienced by students in other disciplines,
primarily due to the rigorous nature of medical education.
Categories of Stressors:
Stressors encountered by medical students can generally be divided into three
categories:
1. Frustrations: These arise when efforts to achieve a goal are blocked by external
or internal obstacles, or when the goal itself becomes unattainable.
The type of stress and the coping strategies adopted largely depend on the nature of
these conflicts.
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Additionally, situations involving material or emotional losses can amplify stress
levels. Such losses often evoke feelings of helplessness or irretrievability, leading
to prolonged negative emotional states. These states are frequently triggered by
stimuli reminiscent of the original cause and demand passive coping
mechanisms.(27)
Impact on Sleep: The high levels of stress in medical school are further
exacerbated by excessive caffeine and stimulant consumption, as well as sleep-
wake inversion (i.e., staying active at night and sleeping during the day) in an
effort to meet academic demands. Stress, caffeine abuse, and circadian rhythm
disruptions are recognized as significant contributors to sleep disorders.
Given these factors, medical students represent one of the most vulnerable groups
to sleep disorders, making it essential to address these triggers to improve their
overall well-being and academic performance.(28)
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Results
As detailed in Table 1, the majority of participants were aged 18-22 (70.8%), with
a gender distribution (63.9% female and 36.1% male). The distribution across
academic stages showed the highest representation in the fourth stage (28.9%).
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Figure 1: On a scale of 1 to 5, overall quality of sleep over the past month
Sleep-Related Impacts
Figure 1 illustrates participants' self-reported overall sleep quality over the past
month, with a notable concentration at a neutral rating of 3 (45.3%).
Approximately 26.5% rated their sleep as poor (1 or 2), indicating considerable
dissatisfaction among a substantial portion of the sample.
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Table 2: Frequency of Sleep-Related Impacts on Various Aspects
Sleep-Related Impacts
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Table 3: Sleep Duration, Schedule Regularity, and Insomnia Experiences
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Table 4: Sleep Quality and Regular Sleep Schedule Analysis
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Discussion:
Among 432 participants, the majority were females, with (63.9%( female
compared to (36.1%) males, as females filled out the questionnaire more than
males. The most participating grade was the fourth stage (28.9%).
About 15.5% of participants reported that their interactions with people were
always impacted, with 32.9% indicating a very frequent impact. This suggests that
mental and emotional difficulties are not only affecting individual well-being but
also social relationships. A relatively small number (3.7%) reported no impact,
which again points to the broad reach of these challenges.
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reported never using stimulants, which suggests that for many, other coping
mechanisms are used or stimulant use is not perceived as necessary.
Regarding sleep duration, the largest group (26.9%) reported sleeping 7-8 hours,
while 24.3% slept 6-7 hours, which is generally considered within a healthy range.
However, a considerable number of participants (8.6%) reported sleeping less than
5 hours, which is insufficient for optimal health. The findings on sleep schedules
indicate that 41.4% of participants do not have a regular sleep schedule, which
could be contributing to the insomnia and concentration issues observed.
• Regular Sleep Schedule: The data on sleep schedules shows that a majority
(41.4%) do not follow a regular sleep pattern. The lack of a regular sleep schedule
may exacerbate insomnia symptoms and contribute to difficulties in maintaining
focus during the day.(29) And in research from the Department of Basic Medical
Sciences, College of Medicine, Ajman University, they found that irregular sleep
schedules are highly prevalent among university students, aligning with global
findings. Two-thirds of participants reported sleeping less than 7 hours, while a
systematic review across 26 countries showed that 40% of students sleep 6 hours
or less.
Gender was not significantly associated with sleep irregularity, consistent with
studies from Taiwan and the USA. However, female students had poorer sleep
quality, lower sleep efficiency, and were more likely to use sleep medication,
similar to findings in Saudi Arabian medical students. The study also revealed that
students with irregular sleep schedules had higher PSQI scores, indicating poor
sleep hygiene.
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Academic year and study program did not significantly influence sleep patterns,
though Ethiopian research found that second- and third-year students, especially
females, had a higher likelihood of poor sleep quality. Differences in academic
demands, sociocultural factors, and sample sizes may explain these
variations.Additionally, 57.2% of participants reported experiencing insomnia
lasting over a month, contributing to concentration difficulties, irritability, and
lower quality of life. The study also found that 52.9% of students experienced
excessive daytime sleepiness, a rate higher than in India, Malaysia, and Saudi
Arabia but lower than in Brazil and Colombia.The strong correlation between
irregular bedtime frequency and higher Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) scores
suggests that inconsistent sleep schedules worsen sleep quality and increase
daytime drowsiness. These findings highlight the importance of promoting better
sleep hygiene among university students to improve overall well-being and
academic performance.
Conclusion:
1. Prevalence of Sleeping Disorders: The data indicates a high prevalence of
sleep disorders among students. Over 57% of participants reported experiencing
insomnia, and a significant portion of students (41.4%) do not maintain a regular
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sleep schedule. These findings suggest that sleep disturbances are a widespread
issue within this population.
3. The Most Common Sleeping Disorder: The most common sleep disorder
reported is insomnia, with 57.2% of participants experiencing chronic episodes.
Additionally, irregular sleep schedules were found to be common among students,
contributing to overall poor sleep quality. These issues highlight the need for
interventions to improve sleep hygiene and address insomnia in this population.
Recommendations:
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2. Stress
Management and Mental Health Support: Since sleep disturbances like
insomnia are often linked to high stress levels, especially in medical studends.
By addressing these key areas, medical schools can help alleviate sleep-related
issues among students, improving both their academic performance and overall
well-being.
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Questionnaire
1-Age:
2-stage:
3-Gender:
-male -female
4-On average, how many hours of sleep do you get per night?
5-Do you have a regular sleep schedule, going to bed and waking up at same time
everyday?
6-have you ever experienced episodes of insomnia (lasting for more than a
month)?
-yes -no
9-on scale of 1-5 how would you rate the overall quality of your sleep over the past
month?
-1 -2 -3 -4 -5
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10-how often do you feel that bad sleep affects your ability to concentrate during
lectures or study sessions?
11-how often do you skip classes because of poor sleep or feeling too tired?
13-how often do u find yourself using stimulants (caffeine, energy drinks) to stay
awake?
14-How often do you feel that sleep problems contribute to stress or anxiety about
your academic performance?
15-How often do your sleep problems affects your memory and mental state?
16-How often do you wake up during the night and have trouble going back to
sleep?
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