Cognitive behavior therapy for chronic insomnia in occupational health services

The effects of the type of delivery of cognitive-behavioral therapy for healthcare workers: A systematic review

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this literature review is to assess the extent of knowledge of the effectiveness of cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) for healthcare workers by type of delivery.

METHODS

The study examined relevant literature published between 2009 and 2020 using searches of four scientific databases: PubMed, CINAHL, Embase, and PsycINFO.

RESULTS

For work stress, work-related outcomes, and mental and musculoskeletal problems, the effectiveness of face-to-face (FTF) interventions were confirmed, whereas, for stress and insomnia, the effectiveness of non-face-to-face (NFTF) interventions was confirmed. FTF interventions were proven to make a significant difference to the outcome of the goal; however, their effects were not clearly distinguished from those of NFTF interventions.

CONCLUSION

Results of this review highlight the lack of research aimed at establishing the effectiveness of NFTF interventions. In addition, further research is needed on the long-term effectiveness of the intervention process and perception of participants and clinicians on group delivery interventions.

COVID-19 Pandemic and Helsinki University Hospital Personnel Psychological Well-Being: Six-Month Follow-Up Results

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused an unequally distributed extra workload to hospital personnel and first reports have indicated that especially front-line health care personnel are psychologically challenged. A majority of the Finnish COVID-19 patients are cared for in the Helsinki University Hospital district. The psychological distress of the Helsinki University Hospital personnel has been followed via an electronic survey monthly since June 2020. We report six-month follow-up results of a prospective 18-month cohort study. Individual variation explained much more of the total variance in psychological distress (68.5%, 95% CI 65.2-71.9%) and negative changes in sleep (75.6%, 95% CI 72.2-79.2%) than the study survey wave (1.6%, CI 0.5-5.5%; and 0.3%, CI 0.1-1.2%). Regional COVID-19 incidence rates correlated with the personnel's psychological distress. In adjusted multilevel generalized linear multiple regression models, potentially traumatic COVID-19 pandemic-related events (OR 6.54, 95% CI 5.00-8.56) and front-line COVID-19 work (OR 1.81, 95% CI 1.37-2.39) was associated with personnel psychological distress but age and gender was not. While vaccinations have been initiated, creating hope, continuous follow-up and psychosocial support is still needed for all hospital personnel.

Employee Sleep and Workplace Health Promotion: A Systematic Review

OBJECTIVE

Workplace-based employee health promotion programs often target weight loss or physical activity, yet there is growing attention to sleep as it affects employee health and performance. The goal of this review is to systematically examine workplace-based employee health interventions that measure sleep duration as an outcome.

DATA SOURCE

We conducted systematic searches in PubMed, Web of Knowledge, EMBASE, Scopus, and PsycINFO (n = 6177 records).

STUDY INCLUSION AND EXCLUSION CRITERIA

To be included in this systematic review, studies must include (1) individuals aged >18 years, (2) a worker health-related intervention, (3) an employee population, and (4) sleep duration as a primary or secondary outcome.

RESULTS

Twenty studies met criteria. Mean health promotion program duration was 2.0 months (standard deviation [SD] = 1.3), and mean follow-up was 5.6 months (SD = 6.5). The mean sample size of 395 employees (SD = 700.8) had a mean age of 41.5 years (SD = 5.2). Measures of sleep duration included self-report from a general questionnaire (n = 12, 66.6%), self-report based on Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (n = 4, 22.2%), and self-report and actigraphy combined (n = 5, 27.7%). Studies most commonly included sleep hygiene (35.0%), yoga (25.0%), physical activity (10.0%), and cognitive-behavioral therapy for insomnia (10.0%) interventions. Across the interventions, 9 different behavior change techniques (BCTs) were utilized; the majority of interventions used 3 or fewer BCTs, while 1 intervention utilized 4 BCTs. Study quality, on average, was 68.9% (SD = 11.1). Half of the studies found workplace-based health promotion program exposure was associated with a desired increase in mean nightly sleep duration (n = 10, 50.0%).

CONCLUSIONS

Our study findings suggest health promotion programs may be helpful for increasing employee sleep duration and subsequent daytime performance.

Addressing sleep disturbances: an opportunity to prevent cardiometabolic disease?

There is increasing awareness of the role of sleep disturbance as an important factor in health and disease. Although sub-clinical sleep disturbances (insufficient sleep duration or inadequate sleep quality) may be difficult to assess with conceptual and/or methodological clarity, this review attempts to summarize and synthesize these findings. First, the concept of sleep disturbance in a public health context is introduced, to provide context and rationale. Second, operational definitions of 'cardiometabolic disease' and 'sleep disturbance' are offered, to address many unclear operationalizations. Third, the extant literature is summarized regarding short or long sleep duration and/or insufficient sleep, insomnia and insomnia symptoms, general (non-specific sleep disturbances), circadian rhythm abnormalities that result in sleep disturbances, and, briefly, sleep-disordered breathing. Fourth, the review highlights the social/behavioural context of sleep, including discussions of sleep and race/ethnicity, socio-economic position, and other social/environmental factors, in order to place these findings in a social-environmental context relevant to public health. Fifth, the review highlights the issue of sleep as a domain of health behaviour and addresses issues regarding development of healthy sleep interventions. Finally, a research agenda of future directions is proposed.

Cognitive behavioral therapy for shift workers with chronic insomnia

OBJECTIVE

Shift work is a challenge in the screening and treatment of chronic insomnia. The aim of this study was to examine the implementation and effectiveness of a cognitive behavioral group intervention for insomnia (CBT-I) among shift workers with chronic insomnia. We also studied whether insomnia symptoms and intervention effects differed on work days and days off.

METHODS

The study design was a non-randomized group intervention, including a waiting period prior to CBT-I as a control condition. A total of 19 media workers who worked irregular hours and had non-organic insomnia with features of psychological insomnia completed the study. We followed up with the results for a period of 6 months. Outcomes were assessed using a sleep diary, questionnaires, and actigraphy. The CBT-I groups were led by trained nurses of occupational health services (OHS).

RESULTS

The post-intervention results showed significant improvements in self-reported and actigraphic sleep onset latency, and in self-reported sleep efficiency, sleep quality, and restedness. In addition, the perceived severity of insomnia, sleep-related dysfunctional cognitions, psychiatric and somatic symptoms, and the mental component of health-related quality of life improved significantly. The improvements lasted and even strengthened over the follow-up period. The participants generally slept significantly better on days off than on work days, but the treatment improved sleep on both.

CONCLUSIONS

The study showed that non-pharmacological treatment of insomnia can be implemented among shift workers with chronic insomnia, and delivery of the treatment by trained OHS nurses yields promising results. Some caution, however, is needed when interpreting the results because of the non-randomized study design and small sample size.