FREQUENCY AND DETERMINANTS OF SLEEP DISORDERS AND USE OF SEDATIVES AMONG MEDICAL STUDENTS OF CONTINENTAL MEDICAL COLLEGE LAHORE

Background: Sleep disturbance is a common clinical problem experienced by medical students due to hectic academic curriculum and extensive investment of time and energy in their every day lectures and clinical duties. The use of sedative-hypnotic medications has been established in a fraction of students suffering from sleep deprivation and other sleep disorders, emphasizing the need for further research and discussion. Objectives: 1. To assess the frequency of sleep disorders and their determinants among medical students of a private Medical College Lahore; 2. To find out the use of sedatives amongst medical studentsso to target the group for health education. Study subjects and setting: Hundred (100) students from all five MBBS classes of Continental Medical College were included in the study. Study Design and Methods: Descriptive Cross sectional study was conducted on 100 students, 20 students from each class were selected by systematic random sampling technique. Results:From 100 students 29% agreed to tell that they face the trouble falling asleep, while 39% said that they take naps during whole night while studying and 32 % rated their sleep as excellent and sound for 6-8 hrs/24 hrs. While 10 % suffered with sleep disorder as very poor quality of sleep. Psychological instability and Academic stress were two major potential causes of sleep deprivation by 49% and 35% respectively. Although only a few( 10 %) admitted the use of sedatives to help them sleep, another 12% also used sedatives to tackle panic attacks. Conclusion: Study concluded that sleep disturbances are closely associated with medical study stress. Psychological disorders as anxiety and depression are also associated with medical curriculum and results also signify that a small fraction of students use sedatives to help them with sleep.