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Undergraduate medical students show a mismatch between awareness of OSA symptoms and help-seeking behavior, with most opting for self-directed changes instead of professional help.

A qualitative study of 36 undergraduate medical students found that only a few demonstrated accurate knowledge of OSA, while the majority reported symptoms like daytime sleepiness due to academic burden. Despite this, help-seeking behavior was low, with most students choosing self-directed changes such as increasing exercise and adjusting sleep schedules.

Last updated: Jul 14, 2026•0 RCTs•📖 Read as article →

Evidence Score

Evidence Score32/100
Human RCT☆☆☆☆☆
Meta-analysis☆☆☆☆☆
Mechanism★★★★★
Safety★★★★☆
Confidencelow

Study Evidence

Study 1. Perceived risk, symptoms and help-seeking behaviour for obstructive sleep apnoea among undergraduate medical students: a qualitative study.

observational

Bhaskaran D, Angappan S, Sukumaran S, Sai Subramanian A, Mourali C, Durairaj S · Frontiers in public health (2026)

Participants: N/A
Duration: N/A
Intervention: Qualitative exploration of self-perceived risk, symptom awareness, and help-seeking actions (no experimental intervention)
Outcome: Awareness of OSA symptoms, self-perceived risk, help-seeking behavior (e.g., professional consultation vs. self-directed changes)
Effect Size: N/A
Population: 36 undergraduate medical students from a medical college

Result:

PubMed: 42428918DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2026.1857585

Mechanism Graph

Medical students normalize sleep symptoms due to academic burden
↓
Limited awareness and misconceptions about OSA persist despite theoretical knowledge
↓
Barriers to help-seeking include reluctance and normalization
↓
Result: Low professional help-seeking, with self-directed lifestyle changes as primary response

Limitations

  • ⚠Qualitative design limits generalizability to larger populations
  • ⚠Self-reported data may be subject to recall or social desirability bias

Frequently Asked Questions

Why do medical students underdiagnose their own OSA symptoms?▼

The study suggests that medical students normalize sleep symptoms due to academic burden and have limited awareness or misconceptions about OSA, despite theoretical knowledge.

What help-seeking behaviors did medical students report?▼

Most students opted for self-directed changes like increasing exercise and adjusting sleep schedules, rather than seeking professional medical help.

How many medical students had accurate knowledge of OSA?▼

Only a few students demonstrated accurate knowledge of OSA, according to the study's thematic analysis.

What are the main barriers to help-seeking for OSA among medical students?▼

Barriers include normalization of symptoms, limited awareness, and reluctance to seek help, compounded by the impact of medical school lifestyle.

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References

  1. 1.Bhaskaran D, Angappan S, Sukumaran S, Sai Subramanian A, Mourali C, Durairaj S. "Perceived risk, symptoms and help-seeking behaviour for obstructive sleep apnoea among undergraduate medical students: a qualitative study.." Frontiers in public health, 2026. PMID: 42428918 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2026.1857585
Disclaimer: This content is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. Evidence scores reflect the quality and quantity of available research, not clinical recommendations. Always consult a healthcare professional before starting any supplement or intervention.