Sleep-wake habits, excessive daytime sleepiness and academic performance among medical students in Hong Kong

Wing Fai Yeung, Ka Fai Chung, Tommy Cy Chan

Research output: Journal article publicationJournal articleAcademic researchpeer-review

15 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

This study examined the relationship between sleep/wake variables and academic performance among medical students in Hong Kong. Unlike previous studies, we examined both written and clinical skills performance. A total of 249 medical students were recruited. The students completed a self-administered questionnaire on sleep/wake habits in the previous week, Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) and Functional Outcomes of Sleep Questionnaire (FOSQ). There were significant correlations between the written examination result and usual bedtimes (Spearman's ρ = 0.17, p = 0.01) and usual rise times (ρ = 0.17, p = 0.009); and between clinical skills assessment result and self-rated sleep quality (ρ = 0.17, p = 0.02). Students with earlier bedtimes and rise times and better sleep quality had better examination results. Both ESS and FOSQ total score were not significantly associated with examination results. Our findings suggested that students with later sleep phase and poor sleep quality were at a higher risk of impaired academic performance.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)369-377
Number of pages9
JournalBiological Rhythm Research
Volume39
Issue number4
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Aug 2008
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Education
  • Excessive daytime sleepiness
  • Hong Kong
  • Medical students
  • Sleep

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Physiology
  • Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics
  • Physiology (medical)

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