Perception of Sleep Disturbances due to Bedtime Use of Blue Light-Emitting Devices and Its Impact on Habits and Sleep Quality among Young Medical Students. (26th December 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Jniene, Asmaa; Errguig, Leila; El Hangouche, Abdelkader Jalil; Rkain, Hanan; Aboudrar, Souad; El Ftouh, Mustapha; Dakka, Taoufiq
• Other Names: Jha Sushil K. Academic Editor.
• Is Part Of: BioMed research international. Volume 2019(2019)
• Publication Date: 2019-12-26
• Subjects: Medicine -- Periodicals; Biology -- Periodicals; Biotechnology -- Periodicals; Life sciences -- Periodicals; 610.5
• DOI: 10.1155/2019/7012350
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2314-6133

Abstract

Abstract : Introduction . The use of blue light-emitting devices (smartphones, tablets, and laptops) at bedtime has negative effects on sleep due to light stimulation and/or problematic excessive use. We aimed to evaluate, among young medical students, if the perception of sleep disturbances due to bedtime use of these devices is consistent with healthier habits and a better sleep quality. Materials and methods . 294 medical students in medicine and pharmacy from the Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy of Rabat, Morocco, took part in this anonymous and voluntary cross-sectional study and answered an electronic questionnaire. Student and Mann–Whitney U tests were used to compare variables between 2 groups based on their perception of sleep disturbances. The level of significance was p ≤ 0.05 . Results . 286 students (97.3%) used a blue light-emitting smart device at bedtime before sleep, and sleep quality was poor (Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, PSQI > 5) in 101 students (35.3%). The perception of sleep disturbances due to this night usage was reported by 188 of them (65.7%). In this group, 154 (81.9%) used their device with all the lights turned off in the room (p = 0.02 ), 34 (18.1%) put devices under pillows (p = 0.04 ), 114 (60.6%) interrupted sleep to check messages (p < 0.001 ), and the mean duration use of these technologies at bedtime was 2 h ± 23 min per night (p = 0.02 ). Also, the mean sleep duration was 6.3 hours ± 1.25 (p = 0.04 ), 119 (63.3%) presented fatigue on waking more than one time per week (p = 0.04 ), and 76 (40.4%) presented poor sleep quality (75.2% of the students with PSQI > 5) (p = 0.005 ). Conclusions . Despite the perception of sleep disturbances due to bedtime use of blue light-emitting devices, unhealthy sleep habits tend to be frequent in young medical students and worrying because it is associated to significant poor sleep quality.