Factors associated with sleep quality among medical students in Vietnam: a national cross-sectional study

This study explored factors associated with sleep quality among medical students in Vietnam.

Cross-sectional study.

The study was conducted from December 2019 to February 2020 among medical students in Vietnam.

Medical students were defined as those enrolled in undergraduate medical programmes. 1284 medical students who met the inclusion criteria participated in this study.

The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) was used to measure participants' sleep quality, with a score of 5 or higher indicating poor sleep quality. Multivariable logistic and linear regression models were employed to identify the factors associated with poor sleep quality.

36.6% of the study participants had poor sleep quality. There were statistically significant differences in the percentage of poor sleep quality across genders, health-related quality of life, morbidity status and depression (p<0.05). Depression (Coef.=0.54, 95% CI 0.17, 0.91 and OR=1.50, 95% CI 1.13, 1.99) and any morbidity (Coef.=0.64, 95% CI 0.28, 0.99 and OR=1.44, 95% CI 1.09, 1.88) were factors associated with higher PSQI Score and increased risk of poor sleep quality. In contrast, higher health-related quality of life scores (EuroQOL-5 dimensions-5 Levels Index: OR=0.01; 95% CI 0.002, 0.03 and Coef.=-7.11; 95% CI -8.65, -5.56; and EuroQOL-Visual Analogue Scale: OR=0.99; 95% CI 0.98, 1.00 and Coef.=-0.03; 95% CI -0.04, -0.01) were related to lower PSQI Score and reduced risk of poor sleep quality.

This study reveals that health conditions and psychological well-being were associated with sleep quality among medical students. Reducing stress, improving quality of life and improving morbidity have the potential to improve the sleep quality of medical students.