Frequency of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Symptoms in Medical Students and Associated Factors-A Cross Sectional Study

Abstract

Objective: To study the frequency of ADHD symptoms in medical students and its association with their physical activity, screen time and sleep pattern.
Study Design: Cross sectional descriptive study.
Place and Duration of Study: This study was carried out among first year and second-year medical students of Rawalpindi Medica l University, Rawalpindi from June 2017 to August 2017.
Materials and Methods: Data was collected using a self-administered questionnaire derived from literature. Sleep deprivation was assessed using Epworth Sleepiness Scale. ADHD symptoms were assessed using Adult ADHD Self Report Scale (ASRS-V1.1) Symptom Checklist. Significance value was set at p<0.05. The questionnaires were distributed among three hundred medical students and sample size of 271 was met after discarding responses with missing information and not meeting inclusion criteria. Data was analyzed using SPSS version 23. Chi square test was used to determine the association of ADHD symptomology with sleep pattern, physical activity, and screen time.
Results: 12.17% (n=33) respondents fell in ADHD spectrum as they scored more than 4 in ASRS V1.1. Significant relation was not established between ADHD symptoms and sleep deprivation (p=0.58). The relation between physical activity and ADHD symptom turned out to be significant (p=0.045). Total screen time and ADHD did not show a significant relation(p=0.266). Similarly, TV hours were not significantly associated with ADHD symptoms (p=0.932). However, laptop usage hours per day (p=0.04) and phone usage hours per day (p=0.007) were significantly related to ADHD symptoms.
Conclusion: Lack of physical activity and prolonged screen time have significant correlation with self-reported ADHD symptoms in medical students. However, sleep deprivation is not significantly associated with ADHD symptomology. Hence, cutting down the screen time particularly laptop and mobile usage hours and increasing the time of physical activity might help in preventing and alleviating ADHD symptoms.