P036 A novel approach to nurture sleep education in a crowded curriculum

Abstract

Abstract Aims To explore Year 6 medical students’ perceptions of sleep education during medical school to inform the development of a sleep curriculum. Methods Year 6 medical students on their final general practice (GP) placement in 2020 (71/254 of the Year 6 cohort) were invited to complete an online survey regarding sleep education recalled during the medical programme. Results Sleep education survey responses were received from 51/71 of students in the final GP cohort (72%). Three areas were more frequently recalled - 83% recalled learning about sleep apnoea, 71% about sleep physiology, and 69% about snoring. Only 50% recalled learning about assessing sleep and 42% recalled receiving education about insomnia. More than 80% of students reported they received no education regarding preparing for, coping with, or recovering from night shifts. Students identified common sleep disorders, sleep assessment, and shift work as priority topics. Conclusions Whilst the majority of students recalled receiving education on select topics, most had no awareness of education relating to sleep assessment, insomnia, or shift work. Sleep education in the curriculum needs more emphasis and reinforcement given its relevance across many domains of health and morbidity. We propose that an identifiable sleep curriculum is necessary and useful to ensure medical students have the necessary core education regarding sleep and sleep disorders both for patients and themselves. Further, we believe this is possible to achieve within the constraints of the undergraduate curriculum and propose some creative solutions.