Abstract

ESCOBAR-CORDOBA, Franklin et al. Disorders of excessive somnolence in students of medicine school of the National University of Colombia. rev.fac.med. [online]. 2008, vol.56, n.3, pp.235-244. ISSN 0120-0011.

Background. Traditionally the medicine students sleep little, study long nocturnal days and as consequence suffers hypersomnolence that produces diminution in the attention and affects its quality of life. In our country little is known on the prevalence and gravity of this symptom in this population, like its effects in groups of shift workers in general like watchmen, personnel of health, pilots, the military, among others. Objective. To determine the prevalence of daily excessive somnolence in a group of medical students of the National University of Colombia School of Medicine. Material and methods. A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted in 2006 with a sample of medicine students (79.2%, n=99/125) who provided their consent to participate in the study. Nationwide validated self-rating scale was used as measure: Epworth Sleepiness Scale. Results. The evaluated students were young, university students of third semester of medicine, in those who was daily excessive somnolence in the 59,6%, (n=59/99), being more frequent in masculine young people with average of age of 21 years. Data more elevated comparatively with the informed ones in other studies for the general population. Conclusions. The prevalence of daily excessive somnolence in the study sample was quantitatively significant and superior to other studies.

Keywords : epidemiology; students; medical; prevalence; sleep disorders; disorders of excessive somnolence.

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