Evaluation and Comparison of Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice of Sleep Hygiene in Students of Different Universities of Isfahan City, Iran

Background: Sleep is an effective factor in physical and psychological health that its lack can cause a malfunction in the daily functioning, as well as loss of overall performance. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on 918 students of Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan University of Technology, and the University of Isfahan in Isfahan City, Iran. Clustered random sampling method was used to select the participants. The instruments used were the demographic questionnaire and sleep health scale. Data were analyzed using covariance analysis and Tukey’s post hoc test. Findings: The mean total score of the sleep hygiene questionnaire was 297.90 ± 39.15, which varied from 195 to 425. The mean score of the total score of the questionnaire was higher in students of Isfahan University of Medical Sciences compared to other universities (P < 0.050). Girls of Isfahan University of Medical Sciences scored the highest score (P < 0.050). The average score of knowledge of sleep health was significantly higher in students of Isfahan University of Medical Sciences than in Isfahan University of Technology (P < 0.001) and in University of Isfahan (P < 0.001). The mean score of sleep hygiene knowledge had a significant and direct relation with different years of study and age (P < 0.050). The average score of sleep attitude was higher in dentistry students than other students (P < 0.001). Conclusion: Results showed that medical students have a better attitude and function of sleep health. Mean scores of attitude, performance, and sleep hygiene were significantly higher in students of Isfahan University of Medical Sciences than in other two universities, and the mean score of girls in Isfahan University of Medical Sciences was higher than other groups.