Sleep quality & prevalence of restless legs syndrome among healthcare professionals

Abstract

Aim: Healthcare professionals constitute a high-risk group for occupational stress as a consequence of difficult working conditions and therefore, they are prone to sleep disorders. The present study aimed to determine the prevalence of poor sleep quality and restless legs syndrome among healthcare professionals working daytime duty at a tertiary center, and to identify potential factors influencing sleep quality.
Methods: A total of 150 participants including physicians, nurses and other health professionals were included in this questionnaire-based cross-sectional study. All participants completed a self-administered questionnaire comprised of the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS) Study Group Diagnostic Criteria, as well as demographic characteristics.
Results: Global PSQI score was 6.8 and the mean BDI score was 11.8. A PSQI score of >5, which indicates poor sleep quality, was noted in 69 participants (46%), while Restless legs syndrome was found in 31 (21%) and depression in 40 (26%) of the participants. Workplace violence, working at an intensive care unit, working in the operating room, and BDI scores were found to be factors that independently contributed to poor sleep quality. Furthermore, age, occupational experience, working at intensive care unit, work environment unrest and BDI scores were predictors of RLS.
Conclusions: In a substantial proportion of healthcare professionals, sleep quality is somewhat impaired and RLS and depressive symptoms are also frequent in this population. Work environment unrest, working conditions and intensity of depressive symptoms are determinants of sleep disorders in healthcare professionals. Healthcare professionals should be regularly screened for the presence of sleep disorders to recognize and treat the underlying causative conditions.

Keywords

• Healthcare professional,Sleep quality,Restless legs syndrome,Depression,Occupational stress

Sağlık çalışanlarında uyku kalitesi ve huzursuz bacaklar sendromu sıklığı

Abstract

Amaç: Sağlık çalışanları, zor çalışma koşullarının bir sonucu olarak mesleki stres için yüksek riskli bir grup oluşturmaktadır ve bu nedenle uyku bozukluklarına eğilimlidirler. Bu çalışma, üçüncü basamak bir merkezde gündüz hizmet veren sağlık çalışanları arasında kötü uyku kalitesi ve huzursuz bacaklar sendromu prevalansını belirlemeyi ve uyku kalitesini etkileyen potansiyel faktörleri belirlemeyi amaçlamıştır.

Yöntemler: Anket tabanlı kesitsel özellikte olan bu çalışmaya hekimler, hemşireler ve diğer sağlık profesyonelleri dahil toplam 150 katılımcı dahil edildi. Tüm katılımcılar, Pittsburgh Uyku Kalitesi İndeksi (PSQI), Beck Depresyon Envanteri (BDI) ve Huzursuz Bacaklar Sendromu (RLS) Çalışma Grubu Tanı Kriterleri ve demografik özelliklerden oluşan kendi kendine uygulanan bir anket doldurdu.

Bulgular: Global PSQI skoru 6,8 ve ortalama BDI skoru 11,8 idi. 69 hastada (%46) kötü uyku kalitesini gösteren, >5 PSQI skoru, 31 hastada Huzursuz bacaklar sendromu saptandı (%21) ve depresyon katılımcılarının 40'ında (%26). İşyerinde şiddet, yoğun bakım ünitesinde çalışma, ameliyathanede çalışma ve BDI skorları bağımsız olarak düşük uyku kalitesine katkıda bulunan faktörler olarak bulundu. Ayrıca yaş, mesleki deneyim, yoğun bakım ünitesinde çalışma, çalışma ortamı huzursuzluğu ve BDI skorları RLS'nin prediktörleridir.

Sonuçlar: Sağlık çalışanlarının önemli bir kısmında uyku kalitesi bir miktar bozulmakta ve bu popülasyonda RLS ve depresif belirtiler de sık görülmektedir. Çalışma ortamındaki huzursuzluk, çalışma koşulları ve depresif belirtilerin yoğunluğu sağlık uzmanlarında uyku bozukluklarının belirleyicisidir. Sağlık uzmanları, altta yatan nedensel durumları tanımak ve tedavi etmek için uyku bozukluklarının varlığı açısından düzenli olarak taranmalıdır.

Keywords

• Sağlık uzmanı,Uyku kalitesi,Mesleki stres,Huzursuz bacaklar sendromu,Depresyon

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