Evaluation of Sleep Quality and Daytime Sleepiness in Dentistry Students

This research is characterized as an observational study of transversal type, having analysed undergraduate students in dentistry from a public university in the State of Pernambuco, Brazil. The sample consisted of 325 students enrolled between the 1st and 10th academic semester. Sleep quality was evaluated using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), while excessive daytime sleepiness was analysed through the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS). The t-Student and Mann-Whitney tests were used for the numerical values, with the F-test (ANOVA) or the Kruskal-Wallis test being used to compare more than two categories.

Results:

It was observed that 71.1% of students presented a poor sleep quality, with more than half of the students exhibiting excessive daytime sleepiness (58.1%). A relationship between sleep quality and the academic semester was verified. However, gender and age were not associated with sleep quality or with excessive daytime sleepiness.

Conclusion:

A high prevalence of poor sleep quality and excessive daytime sleepiness was observed among undergraduate students in dentistry. The data suggest that the undergraduate degree in Dentistry can influence the students’ quality of sleep, regardless of age or gender.

Keywords:
Dyssomnias; Sleep Disorders, Intrinsic; Sleepiness; Students, Dental

Variables	N	%
Gender
Male	74	22.8
Female	251	77.2
Academic Semester
1^st to 2^nd	66	20.3
3^rd to 4^th	66	20.3
5^th to 7^th	90	27.7
8^th to 10^th	103	31.7
Age Group (Years Old)
18 to 20	145	44.6
21 to 37	180	55.4
Marital Status
Married	6	1.8
Single	319	98.2
Children
Yes	8	2.5
No	317	97.5
Total	325	100.0

		Quality of Sleep				Daytime Sleepiness
Academic Semester	N	Good	Poor	With Disorder	p-value⁽¹⁾ (1) According Pearson's chi-squared test;	Severe	Excessive	Normal	p-value⁽¹⁾ (1) According Pearson's chi-squared test;
		N (%)	N (%)	N (%)		N (%)	N (%)	N (%)
1st to 2nd	66	2 (3.0)	59 (89.4)	5 (7.6)		7 (10.6)	36 (54.5)	23 (34.8)
3rd to 4th	66	6 (9.1)	43 (65.2)	17 (25.8)		3 (4.5)	30 (45.5)	33 (50.0)
5th to 7th	90	10 (11.1)	63 (70.0)	17 (18.9)		9 (10.0)	43 (52.2)	34 (37.8)
8th to 10th	103	6 (5.8)	66 (64.1)	31 (30.1)		12 (11.7)	45 (43.7)	46 (44.7)
Total	325	24 (7.4)	231(71.1)	70 (21.5)	0.005^* * Significant correlation at 5%.	31 (9.5)	158 (48.6)	136 (41.8)	0.422

	Quality of Sleep		Daytime Sleepiness
Variables	Mean (SD)	Median (P25; P75)	Mean (SD)	Median (P25; P75)
Academic Semester
1st to 2nd	7.47 ± 2.16	7.00 (6.00; 9.00)	11.68 ± 3.85	12.00 (9.00; 14.00)
3rd to 4th	9.02 ± 3.19	9.00 (7.00; 11.00)	10.33 ± 3.89	10.50 (8.00; 13.00)
5th to 7th	7.78 ± 2.89	7.50 (5.00; 10.00)	11.39 ± 3.94	12.00 (8.00; 14.25)
8th to 10th	8.85 ± 3.24	8.00 (6.00; 11.00)	11.17 ± 4.15	11.00 (8.00; 14.00)
p-value	0.004⁽¹⁾ (1) According to the Kruskal-Wallis test with comparisons made with the given test; ^* * Significant difference at 5%;		0.235⁽²⁾ (2) According to the F-test (ANOVA);
Age Group
18 to 20	8.12 ± 2.74	8.00 (6.00; 10.00)	11.11 ± 3.99	11.00 (8.00; 14.00)
21 to 37	8.46 ± 3.19	8.00 (6.00; 10.00)	11.21 ± 3.99	11.00 (8.00; 14.00)
p-value	0.963⁽³⁾ (3) According to the Manm-Whitney test;		0.831⁽⁴⁾ (4) According to the t-Student test with equal variance.
Gender
Male	8.18 ± 3.11	8.00 (6.00; 10.00)	10.46 ± 3.72	11.00 (8.00; 12.25)
Female	8.35 ± 2.97	8.00 (6.00; 10.00)	11.37 ± 4.05	12.00 (9.00; 14.00)
p-value	0.430⁽³⁾ (3) According to the Manm-Whitney test;		0.084⁽⁴⁾ (4) According to the t-Student test with equal variance.

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[1] Author to whom correspondence should be addressed: Mônica Vilela Heimer, Av. General Newton Cavalcanti, 1650, Tabatinga, Camaragibe, PE, Brazil. 54.756-220. Phone: +55 8131847661. E-mail: monica.vilelaheimer@gmail.com.