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Sleep quality in medical students: Any relationship with fatigue severity?

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Background Sixth-year medical students (interns) experience intense working conditions and need to prepare for medical specialization examination. All these stress factors negatively affect students’ sleep quality. Methods An online survey was conducted in 223 out of 534 interns between April and July 2023 in a university hospital in Türkiye. Sleep quality, fatigue and stress levels were evaluated by Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), Chalder Fatigue Scale (CFS) and Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), respectively (PSQI >5, CFS ≥29, VAS 6.78 ± 1.82 (range 0–10), with higher values indicating greater momentary perceived stress.). Results Out of 223 interns (46.1% women, mean age 24 years), 177 (79.4%) had poor sleep quality. Moderate or high fatigue severity was observed in 94.4% of the students with poor sleep quality, whereas only 52.2% of those with good sleep quality had moderate fatigue risk (p<0.001). Participants with poor sleep quality had lower incomes (p=0.002), higher stress levels (p=0.005) and higher fatigue scores (p=0.001) compared to those with good sleep quality. Additionally, low socioeconomic status (odds ratio [OR], 25.625, 95% confidence interval [CI] 3.313-98.196; p=0.002), increased stress levels (OR, 2.838, CI 1.369-5.882; p=0.005), high stress (OR, 2.053, CI 1.051-4.010; p=0.035), and fatigue severity (OR, 15.308, CI 6.470-36.223; p<0.001) were associated with poor sleep quality. Conclusion Most of the interns (79.4%), working under demanding conditions, had poor sleep quality, leading to increased risk of fatigue severity. Low incomes and high stress levels were predictors of poor sleep quality.

Source: Sleep Epidemiology

DOI: 10.1016/j.sleepe.2025.100126

Authors: Rozan Can Acar, Ece Acan, Ozan Kaan Konak, Ozen K Basoglu

Institution: Ege University

Language: English

Topic: Sleep and related disorders

Subfield: Experimental and Cognitive Psychology

Field: Psychology

Domain: Social Sciences

SDGs: Good health and well-being, Decent work and economic growth

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $2,660