Sleep quality and related factors including restless leg syndrome in medical students and residents in a Turkish university

Abstract

Purpose The aim was to determine sleep quality and related factors including restless leg syndrome in the 6th year medical students and medical residents in Pamukkale University, Faculty of Medicine, Denizli, Turkey. Methods The data collection phase of this cross-sectional study was completed between November 1st and December 31st, 2019, with a questionnaire including 59 items. Three hundred forty-one medical students and residents participated in the study. The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index was used to determine the participants' sleep quality. The International Restless Legs Syndrome Study Group Diagnostic Criteria and the Restless Leg Syndrome Rating Scale were used for the diagnosis and for determining the seriousness of restless leg syndrome, respectively. Results The mean age (SD +/-) was 26.6 +/- 3.2. Men (50%) and medical residents (59%) constituted the majority. Most of the participants (70%) had poor sleep quality, and 9% had restless leg syndrome. Despite losing their significance in multivariable analysis, a relationship existed between restless leg syndrome and sleep quality in bivariate comparisons (p = 0.04). According to the multiple variable analysis, age (p = 0.008), female gender (p = 0.04), insufficient income (p = 0.009), being on-medication (p = 0.007), being a current smoker (p = 0.01), not sleeping at the usual time (p = 0.04), and listening to music before sleeping (p = 0.03) were identified as independent risk factors for poor sleep quality. Conclusions The prevalence of poor sleep quality and restless leg syndrome are high in the 6th year medical students and residents. Necessary measures should be taken to reduce the effect of negative conditions on these vulnerable groups.