The Impact of Electronic Devices and Distance Learning on Sleep Quality among Medical Science Students during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Indonesia

Desak Ketut Indrasari Utami*, Prysta Aderlia Sitanggang, I Made Oka Adnyana, Anak Agung Ayu Putri Laksmidewi, and I Gusti Ngurah Budiarsa

Abstract

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has forced many universities to implement online learning. While this shift has brought positive aspects, excessive gadget and social networking use has led to poor sleep quality among healthcare students. This study aims to analyze the impact of electronic devices and high-intensity social media usage on the sleep quality of multidisciplinary healthcare students during the pandemic. Methods: This cross-sectional study used online surveys to assess the impact of electronic devices and distance learning on sleep quality. Inclusion criteria involved healthcare students enrolled at the university, while exclusion criteria involved students with certain preexisting medical conditions or habits. The study utilized validated instruments to measure relevant data and descriptive and bivariate statistical analyses were used to analyze the data. Results: The results showed that most students used electronic devices for more than 6 hours, with most using smartphones and laptops. Only 40.3% of students used blue light filters, and poor sleep quality was reported by 63.3% of students. There was a significant relationship between poor sleep quality and device usage exceeding 2 gadgets, but no significant relationship between sleep quality and high-intensity social media use or device usage exceeding 6 hours. Conclusion: Excessive electronic device usage and increased social media usage were identified as contributing factors to impaired sleep quality among multidisciplinary healthcare students who underwent online learning during the COVID pandemic. These findings highlight the need for interventions and policies to promote healthy device usage and sleep habits among students during distance learning.

Keywords

blue light filters; COVID-19; electronic; sleep quality; smartphones; laptops

Cite This Article

Utami, D. K. I., Sitanggang, P. A., Adnyana, I. M. O., Laksmidewi, A. A. A. P., Budiarsa, I. G. N. (2024). The Impact of Electronic Devices and Distance Learning on Sleep Quality among Medical Science Students during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Indonesia. International Journal of Scientific Advances (IJSCIA), Volume 5| Issue 2: Mar-Apr 2024, Pages 369-374, URL: https://www.ijscia.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Volume5-Issue2-Mar-Apr-No.596-369-374.pdf

Volume 5 | Issue 2: Mar-Apr 2024