Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices Regarding Sleep-Related Breathing Disorders: A Cross-Sectional Study among Medical Students

Introduction: Sleep-related breathing disorders (SRBD) affect millions globally and are associated with serious health complications such as cardiovascular diseases, stroke, and impaired cognitive function. Early recognition and management are crucial in reducing the burden. However, knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) regarding sleep related breathing disorders among medical students remain understudied.Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on ۲۵۰ medical students (۱st to ۴th year) between June and September ۲۰۲۴. A validated semi-structured questionnaire was used to assess the participants' knowledge, attitudes, and practices concerning SRBD. Descriptive statistics and Chi-square tests were employed for data analysis.Results: The majority of participants were between ۲۱-۳۰ years of age (۷۷.۲%), with a slight female predominance (۵۲.۸%). The study revealed that ۶۲.۴% had limited knowledge of sleep-related breathing disorders, while ۲۴.۸% were well-informed. Knowledge about SRBD’s consequences, diagnostic methods, and treatments was moderate, with ۷۹.۶% acknowledging its impact on health. In the attitude domain, ۵۴.۰% of students would seek medical help if experiencing Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) symptoms, and ۵۲.۰% were likely to undergo polysomnography. However, ۶۶.۰% had never discussed sleep-related concerns with healthcare professionals. In terms of practice, ۷۱.۶% did not engage in habits that could exacerbate SRBD, and ۵۰.۸% prioritized sleep regularly. The mean knowledge score was ۱۰.۷۴ ± ۳.۹۹۹, attitude score was ۶.۷۱ ± ۲.۶۸۱, and practice score was ۳.۴۰ ± ۱.۹۹۶.Conclusions: Medical students demonstrated moderate knowledge and generally positive attitudes towards SRBD, but their practices concerning sleep health were insufficient. The findings highlight the need for improved education and training in sleep medicine to enhance early detection and management of SRBD. Further studies with broader samples are recommended to validate these findings and improve the generalizability of the results.

کلیدواژه ها:

Attitude ، Breathing disorders ، Knowledge ، medical students ، Obstructive Sleep Apnea ، Practice ، Sleep