Abstract Details

Title Poor Sleep Quality is Independently Associated With Executive Dysfunction Among Future Physicians: A Multinational Cross-sectional Analysis of +1600 Undergraduates in Egypt and Sudan

Topic Sleep

Presentation(s) P9 - Poster Session 9 (5:00 PM-6:00 PM)

Poster/Presentation
Number 14-011

Objective

To examine the prevalence and determinants of poor sleep quality and its association with executive functioning among undergraduate medical students in low-resource settings.

Background Adequate sleep is essential for optimal cognitive performance, particularly executive functioning. However, the relationship between sleep quality and executive domains remains insufficiently studied among medical students in low- and middle-income countries.

Design/Methods

An analytical cross-sectional study was conducted among 1,679 medical undergraduates from health-related faculties in Egypt (n = 1,057) and Sudan (n = 622). Participants completed the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and the Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function–Adult Version (BRIEF-A). Spearman’s partial correlations, controlling for confounders, assessed associations between global PSQI scores and BRIEF-A T-scores. Binary logistic regression identified predictors of poor sleep quality.

Results Overall, 71.9% of participants reported poor sleep quality, with prevalence significantly higher among Egyptian students (65%) compared with Sudanese students (35%; p = 0.005). The multivariate model identified insignificant infrequency, inconsistency, and negativity, suggesting the validity of the collected responses. Independent predictors of poor sleep quality included chronic illness (OR = 1.69), financial stress (OR = 1.62), greater daily screen time (OR = 1.18), and higher caffeine intake (OR = 1.20), while longer sleep duration was protective (OR = 0.64). Executive domains most strongly associated with poor sleep included inhibitory control (OR = 1.036), emotional regulation (OR = 1.019), and planning/organization (OR = 1.02). By moderation analysis, sleep quality exerted a stronger impact on inhibition, working memory, behavioral regulation, and metacognition among male students (interaction p < 0.05), signifying males being more sensitive to sleep quality impairments.

Conclusions Poor sleep quality is widespread among medical students in Egypt and Sudan and is modestly linked to executive dysfunction. Interventions to improve sleep hygiene are urgently needed, with attention to gender-specific vulnerabilities, to safeguard cognitive and academic performance among future physicians.

Authors/Disclosures
Nsser Abdelall, MD (LSU Health Sciences - CALS Bldg) PRESENTER	Dr. Abdelall has nothing to disclose.
Nada Al-Shafey	Nada Al-Shafey has nothing to disclose.
Mohamed Ibrahim A. Mohamed, MD	Mr. Mohamed has nothing to disclose.
Abdulrhman Helal, MD, MBBS	Dr. Helal has nothing to disclose.
Elaf Ahmed Basha Alsadig (Omdorman Islamic University)	Mr. Alsadig has nothing to disclose.
Mostafa N. Ahmed, House officer	Dr. Ahmed has nothing to disclose.
Rahaf A. Zakzouk, MD	Dr. Zakzouk has nothing to disclose.
Zahra Serag	Dr. Serag has nothing to disclose.
aamena I. darwish, MD	Dr. darwish has nothing to disclose.
Mustafa Youssef Mohamed, MD	Dr. Youssef Mohamed has nothing to disclose.
Zeyad M. EL-Tokhy	Dr. EL-Tokhy has nothing to disclose.
Mohamed A. Shokry, MBBS	Dr. Shokry has nothing to disclose.
Magdy M. Anber, PhD	Dr. Anber has nothing to disclose.

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