The Sleepy Medical Student: Exploring Sociodemographic Factors and Excessive Daytime Sleepiness in Iraq

Abstract Objectives: To assess the Prevalence of Excessive daytime sleepiness in Iraqi medical students Background: Excessive Daytime Sleepiness is a common problem among medical students, which can lead to poor academic performance, decreased quality of life, and increased risk of accidents. Understanding the factors associated with this sleepiness can help in developing effective interventions to improve the sleep quality and overall well-being of medical students Materials and methods: A cross-sectional analysis was carried out in October 2022 by filling a google form. Colleges of medicine in Iraq. The study targeted 250 medical students, using basic random sampling, students were chosen based on their sex and educational level. Results: Male students comprised 28.6% of the total student population, with female students making up 71.4%. Of those, 15.4% were medicine students, 31.5% were dentistry students and 53.1% were pharmacy students. Additionally, only 1.7% were married and 98.3% were unmarried. The mean age of students was 20.73 (±2.16) years, weight was 65.93 (±16.05) kg, height was 165.14 (±9.00) cm, BMI 24.10 (±5.04) and EPWORTH sleepiness scale 12.71(±4.30). Only 2 (0.8%) students had children. Conclusion: It is important for medical schools to address the issue of excessive daytime sleepiness and provide support to their students to improve their academic performance and overall quality of life.