Sleep quality & prevalence of restless legs syndrome among healthcare professionals

Ülkü Figen Demir

doi:10.28982/josam.693717

Authors

Ülkü Figen Demir https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2546-216X

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.28982/josam.693717

Keywords:

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

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.

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