Association between the presence of internet addiction, insomnia and the quality of sleep hygiene in medical students of the Faculty of Medical Sciences of the National University of Asunción

Abstract

Introduction: Sleep is crucial for rest and health. Factors such as excessive use of electronic devices affect their quality, especially due to blue light that alters the circadian rhythm and delays melatonin. This causes insomnia, daytime sleepiness and lower performance, affecting adolescents and university students more due to digital addiction and hyperconnectivity.

Materials and methods: Cross-sectional, observational and analytical study, carried out at the Faculty of Medical Sciences of the National University of Asunción. The research was focused on second and fourth semester students at FCM-UNA. Due to the complexity of the chosen assessment tools, it was decided to carry out an in-person survey with prior explanation to the students by the research team. The data collected was used anonymously, voluntarily and exclusively for the purposes of this research.

Results: 137 students were surveyed, 62.7% (86/137) female and 37.22% (51/137) male. The average age was 21 years (Minimum 18 years, maximum 36 years). Of the 137 respondents, 34% (46/137) are considered Internet addicts. In the Insomnia Severity Index, it was observed that 90% (123/137) of second and fourth semester medical students suffer from some type of insomnia. Relating the previous results, it was observed that 30% (41/137) of the students surveyed have insomnia and are addicted to the internet. The sleep hygiene quality scale highlights that 38% (52/137) of students in the second and fourth semester of medicine have poor sleep hygiene.

Discussion: This study sought to determine the association between Internet addiction, insomnia and the quality of sleep hygiene in second and fourth semester students of the Faculty of Medical Sciences. Next, relevant findings from previous studies and their relationship with our results are discussed.At Qassim University Faculty of Medicine, in Buraydah, Saudi Arabia, Of the 200 students tested, only 12.4% were classified as Internet addicts. At a private university in Tacna, Peru, a survey was conducted with 3,139 students from 18 different cities to evaluate sleep quality and its associated factors. 43.4% of participants had sleep quality that could require medical attention. Finally, a study conducted in the United Kingdom evaluated smartphone addiction in 1,043 young adults (18-30 years old). In this case, 38.9% of the participants were classified as addicts, and of these, 68.7% had poor sleep quality, compared to 57.1% of non-addicts.

Conclusion: 34% of the second and fourth semester students at FCM-UNA meet the criteria of being addicted to the Internet according to the Internet Addiction Test scale. The frequency of the presence of insomnia was almost in the majority of the second and fourth semester students at FCM-UNA, with the mild type of insomnia predominating. On the other hand, the quality of sleep of FCM-UNA students, 38% had poor sleep hygiene quality.