Quantitatively observational study on the use of melatonin as a sleep regulator in medicine students at Catanduva college

Introduction: Sleeping is a physiological process that restructures and invigorates all physical and mental health of human beings. However, in modern society, due to the intensification of stimuli that increase anxiety, sleep often ends up being impaired. To regulate sleep, one of the therapeutic proposals is the use of melatonin. However, the sale of this hormone is free and accessed without a medical prescription, which makes it possible to misuse it. Without the correct knowledge, many individuals may use the wrong dosage, at the wrong time and even run the risk of adverse effects that they are not aware of. Objectives: The research aims to understand the increasing use of melatonin in helping the sleep cycle, relieving insomnia, which is usually caused by anxiety. The overall objective is to collect data on the use of melatonin by students of the Faculdade de Medicina de Catanduva. More specifically, to assess whether the use is made by medical prescription or self-medicated, to analyze the prevalence of people with insomnia who use this method of treatment, and to verify the dosage and frequency of use of melatonin by students. Methods: For this, a quantitatively observational research was carried out, developed through the application of forms, via Google Forms, for medical students in Catanduva. The population is made up of FAMECA medical students of both sexes, from 17 years old with a sample of 81 people who answered questions about the use of melatonin. Results: Of the 81 people who answered the form, 53.1% had difficulty sleeping in some situations, and with remainder was divided into 23.5% with difficulty every night and 23.5% without difficulty sleeping. 30% reported having insomnia, and 76.5% of people consider that anxiety is the factor that interferes with sleep quality. Regarding the use of melatonin, 28.4% of people use this compound. Of those who use it: 75% use it without a medical prescription, 83.3% always use the same dosage, 86.6% report improvement in sleep quality and 62.8% have never experienced adverse effects. Conclusions: Based on the analysis of data collection, it is possible to conclude that most students have problems related to sleep, and a significant part of them use melatonin as a regulator. However, although most of them do not use it with medical supervision and correct guidance, no major adverse effects have been reported. However, data on the long-term effects of melatonin use still need to be further researched.