scholarly journals Internet addiction and sleep quality among medical students during the COVID-19 pandemic: A multinational cross-sectional survey

PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (11) ◽  
pp. e0259594
Author(s):  
Muhammad Junaid Tahir ◽  
Najma Iqbal Malik ◽  
Irfan Ullah ◽  
Hamza Rafique Khan ◽  
Shahida Perveen ◽  
...  

Background The emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic has affected the lives of many people, including medical students. The present study explored internet addiction and changes in sleep patterns among medical students during the pandemic and assessed the relationship between them. Methods A cross-sectional study was carried out in seven countries, the Dominican Republic, Egypt, Guyana, India, Mexico, Pakistan, and Sudan, using a convenience sampling technique, an online survey comprising demographic details, information regarding COVID-19, the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), and the Internet Addiction Test (IAT). Results In total, 2749 participants completed the questionnaire. Of the total, 67.6% scored above 30 in the IAT, suggesting the presence of an Internet addiction, and 73.5% scored equal and above 5 in the PSQI, suggesting poor sleep quality. Internet addiction was found to be significant predictors of poor sleep quality, causing 13.2% of the variance in poor sleep quality. Participants who reported COVID-19 related symptoms had disturbed sleep and higher internet addiction levels when compared with those who did not. Participants who reported a diagnosis of COVID-19 reported poor sleep quality. Those living with a COVID-19 diagnosed patient reported higher internet addiction and worse sleep quality compared with those who did not have any COVID-19 patients in their surroundings. Conclusion The results of this study suggest that internet addiction and poor sleep quality are two issues that require addressing amongst medical students. Medical training institutions should do their best to minimize their negative impact, particularly during the current COVID-19 pandemic.

F1000Research ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 ◽  
pp. 505
Author(s):  
Dhan Shrestha ◽  
Suman Prasad Adhikari ◽  
Namrata Rawal ◽  
Pravash Budhathoki ◽  
Subashchandra Pokharel ◽  
...  

Background Good sleep quality is associated with a diverse range of positive outcomes such as better health, less daytime sleepiness, well-being and proper psychological functioning. Sleep deprivation or poor sleep quality leads to many metabolic, endocrine, and immune changes. Many studies have shown changes in sleep schedule along with worsening of sleep quality during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods This cross-sectional study was conducted among students of a medical college in Kathmandu, Nepal from January 13, 2021 to February 15, 2021. A stratified random sampling technique was used. Data were collected using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). Questionnaires that were completely filled were included and analyzed using STATA vs. 15. Results 168(n=190) medical students filled out the questionnaires with a response rate of 88.42%. Around 30% (n=51) of respondents had poor sleep quality (PSQI total score of > 5) with an average PSQI score of 4.24±2.19. Unadjusted logistic regression analysis showed significantly higher odds of poor sleep quality among females (OR, 2.25; CI, 1.14-4.43) compared with male and the relation persists even after adjusting with age and year in medical school (aOR, 2.81; CI, 1.35-5.86).  Adjusting with age and gender, 4 th-year MBBS students had 82% lesser odds of having poor sleep quality compared to 2 nd-year MBBS students (aOR, 0.18; CI, 0.04-0.76). Our study is suggestive of poor sleep quality common among medical students. Conclusions More than a quarter of medical students have a poor sleep quality as per our study. So, education and awareness should be raised among medical students regarding the detrimental effects of poor quality sleep on daily activities, physical and mental well-being, and the overall quality of life.


2021 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jianping Xie ◽  
Xia Li ◽  
Haiyun Luo ◽  
Liu He ◽  
Yufan Bai ◽  
...  

The psychological condition of medical students may be influenced by the 2019 novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. This study investigated the prevalence and influencing factors of depressive symptoms, poor sleep quality and poor diet in students at Kunming Medical University during the early part of the COVID-19 outbreak. A cross-sectional study was used from a questionnaire survey in February 2020. Of a total of 1,026 study participants, the prevalence of depressive symptoms, poor sleep quality, and poor diet was, respectively, 22.4, 33.2, and 17.4%. Male students and students with a low degree of focus on COVID-19 had a high risk of depressive symptoms. A high percentage of females and students in the fifth grade, as well as students with high levels of concern about the negative impact of COVID-19 on their education or employment, comprised those with poor sleep quality. Students in the fifth grade and students with high levels of concern about the negative impact of COVID-19 on their education or employment were more likely to report poor diet. This study suggests the importance of monitoring medical students' depressive state during the COVID-19 outbreak, and universities are encouraged to institute policies and programs to provide educational counseling and psychological support to help students to cope with these problems.


2019 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 211-220
Author(s):  
Ahmed Waqas ◽  
Aqsa Iftikhar ◽  
Zahra Malik ◽  
Kapil Kiran Aedma ◽  
Hafsa Meraj ◽  
...  

AbstractObjectivesThis study has been designed to elucidate the prevalence of stress, depression and poor sleep among medical students in a Pakistani medical school. There is a paucity of data on social support among medical students in Pakistan; an important predictor of depressive symptoms. Therefore, this study was also aimed to demonstrate the direct and indirect impact of social support in alleviating depressive symptoms in the study sample.MethodsThis observational cross-sectional study was conducted in Lahore, Pakistan, where a total of 400 students at a medical school were approached between 1st January to 31st March 2018 to participate in the study. The study sample comprised of medical and dental students enrolled at a privately financed Pakistani medical and dental school. The participants responded to a self-administered survey comprising of five parts: a) demographics, b) Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), c) Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), d) Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS) and e) Perceived Stress Scale-4 (PSS-4). All data were analysed using SPSS v. 20. Linear regression analysis was used to reveal the predictors of depression.ResultsIn total, 353 medical students participated, yielding a response rate of 88.25%. Overall, poor sleep quality was experienced by 205 (58.1%) students. Mild to severe depression was reported by 83% of the respondents: mild depression by 104 (29.5%), moderate depression by 104 (29.5%), moderately severe depression by 54 (15.3%) and severe depression by 31 (8.8%) respondents. Subjective sleep quality, sleep latency, daytime dysfunction and stress levels were significantly associated with depression symptoms. Social support was not significantly associated with depressive symptoms in the regression model (Beta = -0.08, P < 0.09); however, it acted as a significant mediator, reducing the strength of the relationship between depressive symptoms and sleep quality and stress.ConclusionsAccording to our study, a large proportion of healthcare (medical and dental) students were found to be suffering from mild to moderate depression and experienced poor sleep quality. It is concluded that social support is an important variable in predicting depressive symptomatology by ameliorating the effects of poor sleep quality and high stress levels.


2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (3) ◽  
pp. 237-242
Author(s):  
Yanqiu Wang ◽  
Ying Zhao ◽  
Ling Liu ◽  
Yan Chen ◽  
Dong Ai ◽  
...  

Objective The purpose of this cross-sectional survey is to explore the current state of Internet addiction (IA) in Chinese medical students and its connection with medical students’ sleep quality and self-injury behavior.Methods Respondents were came from Wannan Medical College, China. The Young’s Internet Addiction Test, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), Self-Harm Questionnaire were used in this cross-sectional survey. A total of 3,738 medical students were investigated, 1,552 (41.52%) males, 2,186 (58.48%) females. T-test, chi-square test and MANOVA were used for data analysis.Results Of the 3,738 medical students, 1,054 (28.2%) reported having IA, 1,126 (30.1%) reported having poor sleep quality, 563 (15.1%) having self-harm behaviors. IA tends to be more female, upper grade students. The sleep quality of IA was worse than that of non-IA (χ<sup>2</sup>=54.882, p<0.001), and the possibility of self-injury was higher than non-IA (χ<sup>2</sup>=107.990, p<0.001).Conclusion This survey shows that the IA detection rate of medical students was 28.2%. Females, higher grade students had a higher IA detection rate. The low sleep quality and self-injury behavior of medical students are associated with IA.


2020 ◽  
pp. 1-5
Author(s):  
R. Barath ◽  
C.P. Rabindranath ◽  
Bindu Menon ◽  
Mathan. K ◽  
Mithun Prasad. V

Background: In recent years the internet had become the most indispensable tool for students for learning, entertainment, and communication. Internet over-usage had emerged as a major problem among students causing the emergence of a problem that is defined as internet addiction (IA) which affects sleep and leads to several mental health problems. This study is the step toward understanding the effect of internet addiction on sleep quality among medical college students in Pondicherry. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study. It is a questionnaire-based study administrated among 298 consenting medical students. The participants were assessed by proforma containing demographic details, variables related to internet use, questionnaires of Internet Addiction Test, and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index for Sleep quality. Statistical data were analysed by SPSS-25. Results: A total of 287 students participated; 113 (39.4%) were males and 174 (60.6%) are females. Out of which Average users were 244 (85.01%) and problematic internet usage was 43 (14.99%), whereas poor sleep quality is found in 132 (45.99%) individuals. A significant correlation was found between internet addiction and the quality of sleep. Conclusions: Participants with problematic internet users were more likely to have a poor quality of sleep and vice versa.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Albashir A. Altayeb ◽  
Batool A. altayeb ◽  
Mohammed E. Ibrahim ◽  
Amira Siddig Abdalgalil

Abstract Introduction: The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-COV-2) is an emerging infection causing a widely spread pandemic of Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). The current COVID-19 pandemic is promoting fear of falling sick, dying, helplessness, and stigma. Urgent and timely understanding of sleep quality and mental health status is needed to help the community. Our investigation designed to assess the degree of sleep disturbance and psychological impact of the lockdown among medical students at university of Khartoum.Objectives: this study conducted to assess the impact of covid-19 lockdown on sleep quality and acute psychiatric morbidities among medical students at university of Khartoum.Method: Institutional based cross sectional study was conducted among 326 participants from Khartoum university, faculty of medicine. Study participants were determined by two steps, stratified sampling followed by systematic sampling techniques. Data was collected using standardized questionnaire, entered and analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) software version 25.Results: out of the total 326 participants 211(64.7%0 were females, and 115(35.35) were males. 92 (28.2%) form the participants were good sleepers and 234 (71.8%) were poor sleepers, the prevalence of moderate to severe anxiety and depression in the participants was found 19.4%, 35.9% respectively. There was correlation between having poor sleep quality and depression among the participants.Conclusion: This study found that there is negative impact of the covid-19 lockdown on medical students, which we found that two thirds of the participants are poor sleepers with a predominance of the female gender among them, One third of the participants had moderate to severe depression which also affects the female more than the males and the junior students more than the seniors, Fifth of the participants had moderate to severe anxiety which affect both gender equally but it did affect the junior students more than the seniors.


2021 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anna Eleftheriou ◽  
Aikaterini Rokou ◽  
Aikaterini Arvaniti ◽  
Evangelia Nena ◽  
Paschalis Steiropoulos

Background-Aim: Medical students have been greatly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic due to their educational program, which comprises theoretical knowledge and also clinical duties, making them vulnerable to viral exposures and possibly affecting their everyday life. The aim of this study was to explore changes in sleep and mental health parameters among medical students in Greece during the second year of the pandemic.Methods: This cross-sectional study comprised students of all medical schools in Greece (n = 7), using an anonymous online survey. Participants completed the following questionnaires: Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), Athens Insomnia Scale (AIS), Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS), General Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7), Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9). Statistical analysis was conducted with the use of SPSS v.26 (IBM SPSS, Armonk NY, USA).Results: Out of the 562 received responses, 559 met the inclusion criteria. The largest proportion of the respondents came from 4th-year (27.8%) and the majority of the sample were females (69.8%). Only 5.9% of the participants reported having been infected by SARS-COV-2. Most of the respondents experienced insomnia (65.9%, mean AIS score: 7.59 ± 4.24), poor sleep quality (52.4%, mean PSQI score: 6.6 ± 3.25) and increased fatigue (48.5%, mean 35.82 ± 11.74). Moderate to severe symptoms of anxiety (mean 9.04 ± 5.66) and depression (mean 9.36 ± 6.15) were noted. Suicidal ideation was found in 16.7% of the sample, while use of sleeping pills in the previous month was reported by 8.8% (n = 47). Further analysis revealed independent associations between sleep and mental health parameters. Higher AIS score was associated with greater FSS score; higher PSQI scores with higher GAD-7 and PHQ-9 scores. Additionally, female students were found to be significantly more affected than males by the COVID-19 pandemic, displaying higher levels of insomnia, sleep disturbances, anxiety and depression. In addition, those with a history of COVID-19 infection or in close proximity with a positive case reported significantly more significant post-traumatic symptoms in IES-COVID-19 questionnaire.Conclusions: In the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, prevalence of sleep and mental health disorders among Greek medical students is significant, highlighting the need for better surveillance of students' wellbeing and subsequent counseling, with special focus on female students and other affected groups.


2019 ◽  
Vol 65 (12) ◽  
pp. 1454-1458 ◽  
Author(s):  
Diogo von Gaevernitz Lima ◽  
Ana Claudia Garabeli Cavalli Kluthcovsky ◽  
Luiz Gustavo Rachid Fernandes ◽  
Giovane Okarenski

SUMMARY OBJECTIVE Evaluate the quality of sleep and its association with the use of computers and cell-phones among medicine and dentistry students. METHODS Cross-sectional and comparative study, which evaluated 425 students through a socioeconomic questionnaire, the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index(PSQI), and a questionnaire on their use of computers and cell phones. RESULTS Poor sleep quality was observed in 61.4% of medical students and in 60.1% of dentistry students. Medical students with poor sleep quality had a higher mean time of computer use at night when compared to those with good sleep quality (p=0.04), as well as for computer (p<0.001) and cell phone use (p<0.01) immediately before bedtime. Dentistry students with poor sleep quality had a higher average time of computer use before bedtime than those with good sleep quality (p=0.03). CONCLUSION Students should receive guidance on prevention strategies and quality of sleep care.


Author(s):  
Murad A. Yasawy ◽  
Rehab A. Mohammed ◽  
Mahmood A. Yasawy ◽  
Nada Mohammed Hafiz ◽  
Haneen A. Turkistani

Background: Aim of the study was to assess the sleep quality among medical students and explore its relation to many variables as BMI, smoking and chronic diseases.Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study, conducted among medical students at Ibn Sina national college, Jeddah, KSA. This study was approved by Research Center. A total of 408 participants; Participants are who admitted to hospital for last two days, pregnant and who under 18 years were excluded. We consider p value=0.05 as significant statistically and our confidant interval (CI) is 95%. We used bivariate and univariant variables, for categorical variables we used Chi-square and Fisher exact test.Results: The participants’ mean age was 22.6±2.7 (87.9%) of them were females. Most of our participants were Single (89.8%). A total of 85.9% of the students had poor sleep quality. Those who had less than 6 Hours of sleeping per day had poor sleep quality by 92.2% and statistically affecting their sleep quality p value =0.000. There was no statistically significant relation between sleep quality and academic year or with Gender (p=0.139, p=0.263) respectively. There was no statistical correlation between Sleep quality and Nightmares or Snoring (p value =0.063, 0.055) respectively.Conclusions: Poor sleep quality was prevalent in all class years of the undergraduate medical course and more common between females. This study revealed high prevalence of poor sleep quality. Sleep educational programs, stress management courses and lifestyles modifications are required.


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