SLEEP QUALITY IN MEDICAL STUDENTS ACROSS THE VARIOUS PHASES OF MEDICAL EDUCATION IN CENTRAL TRAVANCORE, KERALA: A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY

Background: University students experience significant disturbances in their circadian cycles due to academic environment stressors. This is frequently exacerbated by common lifestyle habits, such as late-night internet surfing, television watching, and substance use. Impairment in sleep quality directly impacts academic performance and emotional well-being,emphasizing the critical importance of evaluating subjective and objective sleep metrics among medical undergraduates. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted between 2 months among undergraduate medical students (aged 17-26 years) studying at medical colleges in Central Travancore, Kerala. Utilizing a convenient sampling technique, data from 343 consenting students were gathered via an electronic semi-structured questionnaire. Sleep quality was assessed using the standardized Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). Statistical analysis was executed using SPSS version 26.0.