A study by a student at Qatar University College of Pharmacy (QU-CPH) has revealed that insomnia affects more than two third of QU students.
According to the study by MSc student in Clinical Pharmacy and Practice, Raja Mahamade Ali, poor sleep hygiene practices are highly prevalent among QU students and appear to contribute substantially to the poor quality of sleep identified in this population.
Ali recently defended her MSc thesis entitled: “Sleep patterns among university students and insomnia management in primary care in Qatar: A two phase investigation.”
The study aimed to explore the prevalence of insomnia among university students as well as to assess how insomnia is being addressed and managed within Qatar’s main public health services. This study was conducted under the supervision of CPH assistant professor Dr Monica Zolezzi and was co-supervised by CPH associate professor Dr Ahmed Awaisu.
Ali also interacted with healthcare professionals at Primary Health Care Corporation (PHCC) who informed that insomnia is an important health concern and a major challenge. Several reasons for these challenges included the complexity of insomnia symptoms and its link to mental illness, the limited availability of pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatments, patient attitudes towards insomnia and its treatments, and the lack of local guidelines to guide insomnia management.
Ali said, “University students were selected because they are known to be a population at risk for having sleep disturbances, and PHCC centres were chosen for being the first point of contact with the healthcare system for people who may be experiencing sleeping problems.
"For the purpose of this study, two questionnaires were used: one investigated the students’ quality of sleep and another explored behavioural and environmental factors which could affect sleep, also known as sleep hygiene”.
She also explained that for the second phase of the study, pharmacists and physicians from PHCCs were interviewed and were asked questions regarding the commonly followed approaches for the identification and treatment of insomnia.
“We are working closely with QU Student Counselling Centre to spread awareness among university students about sleep hygiene and optimal lifestyle habits to help them in improving their sleep quality Further research is also needed to quantify the barriers that affect the provision of optimal care for insomnia patients at PHCCs and to design interventions to close these care gaps. Future projects in this area are needed, and they are certainly in my research agenda for MSc student candidates at CPH” Dr Zolezzi highlighted.
The results of this study have been shared with the research community through several podium and poster presentations in local and international conferences.
Ali recently defended her MSc thesis entitled: “Sleep patterns among university students and insomnia management in primary care in Qatar: A two phase investigation.”
The study aimed to explore the prevalence of insomnia among university students as well as to assess how insomnia is being addressed and managed within Qatar’s main public health services. This study was conducted under the supervision of CPH assistant professor Dr Monica Zolezzi and was co-supervised by CPH associate professor Dr Ahmed Awaisu.
Ali also interacted with healthcare professionals at Primary Health Care Corporation (PHCC) who informed that insomnia is an important health concern and a major challenge. Several reasons for these challenges included the complexity of insomnia symptoms and its link to mental illness, the limited availability of pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatments, patient attitudes towards insomnia and its treatments, and the lack of local guidelines to guide insomnia management.
Ali said, “University students were selected because they are known to be a population at risk for having sleep disturbances, and PHCC centres were chosen for being the first point of contact with the healthcare system for people who may be experiencing sleeping problems.
"For the purpose of this study, two questionnaires were used: one investigated the students’ quality of sleep and another explored behavioural and environmental factors which could affect sleep, also known as sleep hygiene”.
She also explained that for the second phase of the study, pharmacists and physicians from PHCCs were interviewed and were asked questions regarding the commonly followed approaches for the identification and treatment of insomnia.
“We are working closely with QU Student Counselling Centre to spread awareness among university students about sleep hygiene and optimal lifestyle habits to help them in improving their sleep quality Further research is also needed to quantify the barriers that affect the provision of optimal care for insomnia patients at PHCCs and to design interventions to close these care gaps. Future projects in this area are needed, and they are certainly in my research agenda for MSc student candidates at CPH” Dr Zolezzi highlighted.
The results of this study have been shared with the research community through several podium and poster presentations in local and international conferences.
from Gulf Times https://ift.tt/2Wdw3Ru
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