Impact of acute partial sleep deprivation on S.L.C.T. As a test for attention score on medical students: A comparative study

sleep is an essential function of brain and help to maintain of attention and concentration. Sleep deprivation lead to difficulty in maintaining attention and concentration. Some medical students study hard at cost of sleep to the extent that is from few hours to total loss of sleep and may lead to many consequences and problems. The medical examination is a complex task and require due attention, concentration complex sensory motor and cognitive coordination, and sleep deprivation is hazardous.

The goal of our study was to evaluate the impact of sleep deprivation on attention task studied by single letter cancellation test (SLCT) amongst the sleep deprived first MBBS students compared to students who had taken adequate sleep.

In laboratory set up, two groups of students Group n1=25 students of Normal sleep group (19 males, 6 females;) of mean age 18 ±1.43,and group n2=23, sleep deprived group (19 males, 4 females;) of mean age 18 ±1.53 years were choosen randomly. On the day one preliminary examination after taking history of sleep deprivation and drug history,caffeine consumption and consent, subjects were instructed to conduction single letter cancellation test (SLCT). The score of the test were compared among both the group and statistical t-test was carried to know the significant of difference in test score.

The results indicated that Group n2 23 subjects [sleep deprived group], performed inferior to group n1 25 Normal sleep group. This suggest that attention, concentration and visual signal interpretation, speed, spatial orientation was significantly affected by sleep deprivation studied by SLCT.

Sleep deprivation leads to poor out come of test of ability to focus selectively by SLCT. Sleep deprivation significantly influence attention parameter i.e. studied by single letter cancellation test (SLCT) and reduce the attention modality. The attention and concentration are essential parameter for good outcome of medical examination especially practical examination performance. Thus, it is recommended that in workplace/college i.e. medical students should be strongly recommended to avoid sleep deprivation and take adequate sleep for healthy performance in practical examination. Sleep hygiene can taught to avoid sleep deprivation. Yoga, relaxation and breathing techniques good alternative for stress management in such set up.