Background: Sleep is an essential physiological process that allows the body and mind to recharge, leaving you refreshed and alert when you wake up. Without enough sleep, the brain cannot function properly. A critical component of healthy rest is sleeping quality, which reflects how restorative and restful a sleep episode is.

Method: This cross-sectional study which was conducted across seven medical colleges of Kurdistan Region (Sulaimani, Erbil, Duhok, Kirkuk, Koya, Kalar and Zakho) from January 24 to February 27, 2024. Data were collected via Google questionnaire; 374 responses were collected from the medical students. Research objectives were clarified to all participants, who provided voluntary participation.



Result

The mean age of the participants was 20.96 years. Female students were a majority (55%). Most respondents were fourth year students. Most of the participant were living in either dormitory or rented a house 50.13%, while 48.7% of the student were living in their parents’ home. A total 28.6% of the respondents reported missing lectures due to inability to wake up in the morning. The sleeping duration were 5-7 hours (59.9%), 7-9 hours in (30.7%), 3-5 hours (4.5%) and >9 hours (4.8%). Remarkably 71.7% of the participants reported that examination-related stress affected their sleep duration and quality.



Conclusion: Poor sleep quality is prevalent among medical students in Kurdistan Region. The study demonstrates that behavioral habits and living places significantly influence sleep schedules. Additionally, poor sleep quality negatively affects students’ psychological well-being, attendance, and overall academic performance.