The Impact of Bedtime Smartphone Usage on Sleep Quality among Undergraduate Medical Students
Moksharthi Sharma, Renu Bedi, Mahendra Khanna, Bheru L Jat
Keywords :
Bedtime smartphone use, Daytime sleepiness, Digital hygiene, Health impacts, Medical students, Pittsburgh index, Smartphone, Sleep quality
Citation Information :
Sharma M, Bedi R, Khanna M, Jat BL. The Impact of Bedtime Smartphone Usage on Sleep Quality among Undergraduate Medical Students. Indian Sleep Med 2025; 20 (1):1-5.
Context: Smartphone use has surged ever since the COVID-19 pandemic, raising concerns about its impact on daily-to-day activities. Blue light emitted by smartphones is known to disrupt melatonin production and adversely affect circadian rhythms, which can potentially affect the health and academics of future doctors.
Aims: This study aims to assess the prevalence of bedtime smartphone use among medical students and its impact on their sleep quality. Settings and Design: The research was a cross-sectional study involving 302 undergraduate medical students at a medical college.
Materials and methods: Data were collected via a pre-tested, semistructured Google Forms questionnaire. The questionnaire covered demographic details, patterns of smartphone use, and sleep quality measured using the Pittsburgh sleep quality index (PSQI).
Statistical analysis used: Descriptive statistics and odds ratios were calculated using PSPP software, with significance determined at p < 0.05.
Results: A significant portion (92.05%) of students reported using smartphones at bedtime, mainly for social media activities. Prolonged smartphone use, especially for over 60 minutes before sleep, was strongly linked to poor sleep quality (OR = 33.92, p < 0.001).
Conclusions: Frequent and extended use of smartphones before bed is associated with poorer sleep quality among medical students. Educational programs focusing on digital and sleep hygiene could improve sleep quality and, consequently, student health and academic performance.
Clinical significance: There is a high prevalence of bedtime smartphone use among medical students, which is correlated with poor sleep quality. Longer smartphone usage durations before sleep increase the risk of sleep disturbances, which can subsequently lead to a myriad of health problems in the future. Educational initiatives promoting digital hygiene could be beneficial.
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