Sleep patterns; among medical and non-medical students of university of Lahore, 2010-11

ABSTRACT

College students experience a number of sleep problems, which impact academic performance, health, and mood. University students are exposed to pressures due to academic demands. To determine the prevalence of sleep disorders among college students and look into their sleep patterns and life style. A cross-sectional study. Sample was comprised of 141 medical and non-medical students. The study was conducted at University of Lahore and period spanned from Dec 2010 to April 2011. The age ranged 18 to 26, with 42.6 to 57.4 Male-female ratios. Both groups were almost similar in use of sleeping pills [medical 97.2, non-medical 82.2%]. They differed in percentages for studying academic books, listening MP 3 player and late night parties/hangouts, wherein medical students outnumbered non-medical students almost by half. Both groups differed in their usual time to sleep, medical students who sleep later than 12 pm was higher [66.2%], compared to 46.6% non-medical. In taking day naps [medical 70.6%, non-medical 37.0%], awakening due to noise often [medical 41.2%, non-medical 30.1%], nightmares during sleep often [medical 23.5%, non-medical 19.5%] and sometimes [medical 44.1%, non-medical 30.1%], difficulty in falling sleep sometimes [medical 50.0%, non-medical 32.9%], feel sleepiness in the class often [medical 45.6%, non-medical 28.8%], feel tired or sleepiness during the day [medical 36.7%, non-medical 23.4%]. Both groups also differ regarding worry about "sleep disturbance to some extent". [medical51.4%, non-medical 35.6%]. Our study found that medical students had more disturbed sleep patterns than the comparing group including delaying sleep time at night, awakening due to noise, experiencing nightmares, difficulty in falling sleep, feeling sleepiness in the class and during the day