Sleep well to perform well: the association between sleep quality and medical student performance in a high-stakes clinical assessment.

Study Objectives:To investigate medical students' sleep quality and duration prior to a major clinical assessment, and their association with clinical performance. Methods:Third year medical students were surveyed following the end of year Observed Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) using a self-completed questionnaire. The questionnaire focussed on sleep in the month and night before the assessment. OSCE scores were linked to questionnaire data for analysis. Results:The response rate was 76.6% (216/282). Poor sleep quality (Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index > 5) was reported by 56.9% (123/216) and 34.7% (75/216) of students the month and night before the OSCE, respectively. Sleep quality the night before the OSCE was significantly associated with OSCE score ( ppConclusions:Medical students' sleep quality and duration the night before a clinical assessment were correlated with their performance in that assessment.