Sleep deprivation and insomnia affect quality of life and can cause many adverse effects including obesity, mental health problems, and road crashes among people in Malaysia. Despite the importance of sleep, there are very few studies on this topic in Malaysia.
The National Sleep Guidelines recommends at least seven hours of sleep per night for adults. Nevertheless, the lack of studies on this subject may suggest that sleep is not widely understood in Malaysia.
Several studies have identified factors associated with poor sleep among health workers in Malaysia. These included the use of smartphones, high psychological distress and late-night use of social media. While the prevalence of subjective poor sleep is higher among healthcare professionals, this is lower among working adults.
In one study, a cross-sectional survey was conducted on a sample of 306 health care workers at a public hospital in Malaysia. A Malay version of the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index was used to measure sleep. Data were analyzed using a univariate logistic regression model.
The results of this study showed that more than half of the study participants were classified as insufficient sleepers.
Interestingly, the dietary intake and behavior of participants were correlating to sleep quality. However, the findings may not be generalizable to the population of healthcare workers in Malaysia.
It was also found that the prevalence of poor sleep was highest among people with a BMI of more than 21.0. This may be due to lifestyle factors. For example, a person who lives in an urban environment in Malaysia, like the study's subjects, may be more susceptible to poor sleep.
In conclusion, sleep health is not widely understood among Malaysians. Sleep deprivation can be prevented. Therefore, public health policies should be developed to address the issue in Malaysia. Contact The Air Station for more details on sleep health education, sleep apnea diagnosis and treatment with the best CPAP devices:
Address: Level 9 Menara Summit, Persiaran Kewajipan USJ 1, 47600 UEP Subang Jaya, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia
www.TheAirStation.com.my