Knowledge, Attitude And Behaviour Towards Sleep Among Fourth Semester Medical Undergraduates In Pokhara, Nepal
1074-1080
Correspondence
Dr. P.Ravi Shankar Dept.of Clinical Pharmacology & Therapeutics
KIST Medical College
Imadol, Lalitpur, Nepal
Address: KIST Medical College
P. O. Box 14142
Imadol, Lalitpur,Nepal
Phone: 00977-01-6916201
Fax: 00977-01-5201496.
E-mail: ravi.dr.shankar@gmail.com
Context: Sleep disturbances are a common problem and exert a significant economic burden. Sleep medicine has not been emphasized in medical schools. Studies on the knowledge, attitude and practice (KAP) towards sleep among medical students are lacking.
Methods: The present study was carried out at Manipal College of Medical Sciences, Pokhara, Nepal among three successive batches of fourth semester medical students using a previously developed and validated questionnaire. The mean knowledge, attitude and practice scores were calculated and compared among various subgroups of respondents.
Results: A total of 189 of the 225 students (84%) participated. Ninety-seven students (51.3%) were male. The mean +/- SD knowledge, attitude and practice scores were 86.5 +/- 14.6 (maximum score 120), 69.4 +/- 18.7 (maximum score 130) and 184.3 +/- 27.5 (maximum being 240) respectively. No significant differences in scores were seen among various subgroups of respondents.
Conclusions: The knowledge of the respondents regarding sleep was satisfactory but the attitude scores were low. The practice of sleep was average to good. Further studies among clinical students and in other medical schools are required.