SLEEP QUALITY AND SLEEPINESS AMONG BEGINNING DENTISTRY STUDENTS FROM A PRIVATE INSTITUTION DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC

Due to the long hours and the high-performance demands placed on dentistry students, sleep disorders are common, especially during the early years of the course. These disorders can be exacerbated by external factors, such as the Covid-19 pandemic. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between sociodemographic and academic factors and sleep quality and sleepiness among first-year dentistry students at a private institution during the Covid-19 pandemic. This cross-sectional analytical study collected data online between November and December 2021 and included students enrolled in the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd years of the University Center of Espírito Santo (UNESC) Graduation Course in Dentistry, located in Colatina, ES, Brazil. The data collection instruments included a sociodemographic and academic questionnaire, the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index for assessing sleep quality, and the Epworth Sleepiness Scale for measuring sleepiness. The analysis involved calculating absolute (n) and relative frequencies (%) and utilizing the chi-square or Fisher's exact test (p<0.05). A total of 115 students participated in the study. The prevalence of sleep disturbances was 39.1%, and abnormal sleepiness was reported by 88.7% of participants. Third-year students exhibited a higher prevalence of poor sleep quality, while second-year students had a higher rate of sleep disturbance (p=0.03). In conclusion, a high prevalence of poor sleep quality and abnormal sleepiness was observed, and an association was found between sleep quality and the year of enrollment in the Dentistry program.