Influence of shift work on rest-activity rhythms, sleep quality, and fatigue of female nurses

A brief mindfulness-based intervention, sleep quality, sleep duration, and fatigue among nurses: A randomized controlled trial

AIMS

The purpose of the current study was to investigate the effectiveness of a mindfulness-based intervention in improving sleep duration, sleep quality, and fatigue among Jordanian nurses.

DESIGN AND METHODS

A randomized controlled trial was used to conduct this study. Data from 123 nurses (60 nurses in the interventional group and 63 nurses in the control group) were collected and analyzed. The primary outcome measures were compared between the intervention and control groups using repeated measure MANOVA to assess changes in sleep duration, sleep quality, and fatigue over time.

RESULTS

The results showed that there was a statistically significant multivariate effect of the intervention on the linear combination of the dependent variables (sleep duration, sleep quality, and fatigue) (V = 0.23, F (3, 119) = 12.02, p < .001) with Partial η2 of 0.23. Follow-up analysis showed that the intervention group had lower sleep disturbances (Mean difference = -6.53, CI = -7.79 to -5.26) and less fatigue (Mean difference = -13.36, CI = -17.24 to -9.47) than the control group.

CONCLUSIONS

The current study showed that the mindfulness-based intervention effectively addresses sleep quality and fatigue in nurses, which in turn is expected to positively impact the health care system.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE

Mindfulness-based interventions effectively address sleep quality and fatigue associated with nurses' job performance and outcomes. Implementing brief mindfulness-based interventions is crucial as they can be self-implemented and fit into nurses' busy schedules.

Healthier Dietary Patterns Are Associated with Better Sleep Quality among Shanghai Suburban Adults: A Cross-Sectional Study

BACKGROUND

More is to be explored between dietary patterns and sleep quality in the Chinese adult population.

METHODS

A cross-sectional study including 7987 Shanghai suburban adults aged 20-74 years was conducted. Dietary information was obtained using a validated food frequency questionnaire. Adherence to a priori dietary patterns, such as the Chinese Healthy Eating Index (CHEI), Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet and Mediterranean diet (MD), was assessed. Sleep quality was assessed from self-reported responses to the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) questionnaire. Logistic regression models adjusting for confounders were employed to examine the associations.

RESULTS

The overall prevalence of poor sleep (PSQI score ≥ 5) was 28.46%. Factor analysis demonstrated four a posteriori dietary patterns. Participants with a higher CHEI (ORQ4 vs. Q1: 0.81, 95% CI: 0.70-0.95), DASH (ORQ4 vs. Q1: 0.70, 95% CI: 0.60-0.82) or MD (ORQ4 vs. Q1: 0.75, 95% CI: 0.64-0.87) had a lower poor sleep prevalence, while participants with a higher "Beverages" score had a higher poor sleep prevalence (ORQ4 vs. Q1: 1.18, 95% CI: 1.02-1.27).

CONCLUSIONS

In Shanghai suburban adults, healthier dietary patterns and lower consumption of beverages were associated with better sleep quality.

Sleep quality, sleep duration, and sleep disturbances among hospital night workers: a prospective cohort study

PURPOSE

This study aimed to assess among hospital night workers (i) to what extent sleep quality, sleep duration and sleep disturbances overlap, and (ii) associations between sociodemographic factors, lifestyle factors and work characteristics and sleep components.

METHODS

Data were used from 467 hospital night workers participating in the Klokwerk + study, a prospective cohort study with two measurements. Sleep quality was measured by the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, sleep duration and sleep disturbances were measured by the Medical Outcomes Study Sleep Scale. The overlap between the three sleep measures was visualized with a Venn diagram and the proportions of overlap was calculated. Associations between independent variables (sociodemographic factors, lifestyle factors and work characteristics) and the three sleep outcomes were estimated using between-within Poisson regression models.

RESULTS

About 50% of the hospital night workers had at least one poor sleep outcome. Overlap in poor sleep outcomes was apparent for 36.8% of these workers, while the majority had a poor outcome in one of the sleep components only (63.1%). Former smoking had a significant association with poor sleep quality. For most independent variables no associations with poor sleep outcomes were observed.

CONCLUSION

Our findings suggest that sleep quality, sleep duration and sleep disturbances are separate entities and should be studied separately. Lifestyle factors and work characteristics were generally not associated with poor sleep. Since these factors can have an acute effect on sleep, future research should consider ecological momentary assessment to examine how exposure and outcomes (co)vary within-persons, over time, and across contexts. Trial registration Netherlands Trial Register trial number NL56022.041.16.

Effects of shift work schedules, compensatory sleep, and work-family conflict on fatigue of shift-working nurses in Chinese intensive care units

BACKGROUND

Shift work is inevitable for nurses in intensive care units. Various studies explored nurses' fatigue in multiple hospital wards. However, few studies focused on fatigue among nurses in intensive care units.

AIMS

To determine the association between shift work schedules, compensatory sleep, work-family conflict, and fatigue of shift-working nurses in critical care units.

STUDY DESIGN

A descriptive cross-sectional multi-center study was conducted in March 2022 among intensive care nurses from five hospitals.

METHODS

Data were collected by online survey, including self-designed demographic questions, the Fatigue Scale-14, the Chinese adult daytime sleepiness scale, and the work-family scale. Pearson correlation was conducted for bivariate analysis. Independent-sample t-test, one-way ANOVA, and multiple linear regression analysis were performed to examine fatigue-related variables.

RESULTS

A total of 326 nurses responded to the survey with an effective response rate of 74.9%. The mean scores of physical fatigue and mental fatigue were 6.80 and 3.72, respectively. The bivariate analyses showed that work-family conflict was positively correlated with physical (r = 0.483, p < .001) and mental fatigue (r = 0.406, p < .001). Multiple linear regression results showed that work-family conflict, daytime sleepiness, and shift system were statistically significant factors influencing physical fatigue (F = 41.793, p < .001). Work-family conflict, sleep duration after the night shift, and daytime sleepiness were the main influencing factors of mental fatigue (F = 25.105, p < .001).

CONCLUSIONS

Nurses with higher work-family conflict, daytime sleepiness, and working 12-h shifts have higher levels of physical fatigue. Higher work-family conflict, shorter sleep duration after night shifts, and daytime sleepiness are associated with higher mental fatigue among intensive care nurses.

RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE

Nursing managers and nurses should consider work-family factors and compensatory sleep in their efforts to reduce fatigue. It is necessary to strengthen work-supporting strategies and compensatory sleep guidance for nurses to promote fatigue recovery.

Self-reported work-related accumulative fatigue of nurses: A cross-sectional study in public hospitals in China

Objectives

Work-related fatigue is a serious safety risk to nurses and their patients. This study aimed to assess self-reported work-related accumulative fatigue of nurses and its associated factors.

Methods

A questionnaire survey of 2,918 clinical nurses conveniently sampled from 48 public hospitals across six provinces in China was conducted. The "Self-diagnosis Checklist for Assessment of Workers' Accumulated Fatigue" was adopted to assess the level of work-related accumulative fatigue of the study participants. Chi-square tests and ordinal regression analyses were performed to determine the sociodemographic characteristics associated with work-related accumulative fatigue.

Results

About one third of respondents reported low work-related accumulative fatigue, compared with 23.1% reporting high and 24.6% reporting very high levels of work-related accumulative fatigue. Higher levels of work-related accumulative fatigue were associated with female gender (AOR = 0.614 for male relative to female, p = 0.005), age between 30 and 40 years (AOR = 1.346 relative to >40 years, p = 0.034), 5-10 years of work experience (AOR = 1.277 relative to >10 years, p = 0.034), and bachelor or above degree qualifications (AOR = 0.806 for associate degree relative to bachelor or above degree, p = 0.007). Those who worked in rural county hospitals (AOR = 0.816 for metropolitan relative to rural county hospitals, p = 0.006) and resided in central China (AOR = 1.276 relative to western China, p = 0.004) had higher odds of reporting higher levels of work-related accumulative fatigue.

Conclusion

High levels of work-related accumulative fatigue are evident in nurses of public hospitals in China. The problem is more serious in the female nurses in their mid-career and those who worked in the central region and rural setting.

Influencing factors of fatigue among public health nurses during the COVID-19 pandemic: A cross-sectional study

OBJECTIVE

This study investigated the effects of occupational stress, anxiety, depression, and sleep disturbance on the level of fatigue among public health nurses (PHNs).

DESIGN

The study had a cross-sectional, correlational survey design.

MEASURES

A total of 198 PHNs were enrolled from 30 public healthcare centers/offices. Data were collected between May and July 2021 using a structured questionnaire to investigate the general characteristics, occupational stress, anxiety, depression, sleep disturbance, and fatigue of the participants. Descriptive statistics and multiple regressions were used to determine fatigue and its influencing factors among PHNs.

RESULTS

The participants showed high fatigue and occupational stress levels due to a lack of rewards. The percentage of participants with mild-to-severe anxiety and mild-to-severe depression, and those who identified themselves as poor sleepers were 44.9%, 50.5%, and 70.2%, respectively. High levels of sleep disturbance (β = .23, p < .001), occupational stress (β = .21, p < .001), anxiety (β = .20, p = .016), depression (β = .17, p = .043), being younger (β = -.15, p = .004), and being a regular worker (β = .13, p = .017) were influencing factors of fatigue.

CONCLUSIONS

Individual efforts and organizational interventions to enhance sleep quality are needed to relieve fatigue among PHNs. Further, organizational support can be considerate of young nurses and regular workers, and alleviate their occupational stress. Moreover, anxiety and depression should be managed efficiently to reduce fatigue.

Sleep Disturbances and Health Consequences Induced by the Specificity of Nurses' Work

INTRODUCTION

Nursing staff working in a shift or night system are exposed to sleep disorders, which has a direct impact on the emergence of dangerous health consequences for them. Melatonin secretion is abnormal at night and the circadian rhythm is disturbed. The aim of the study was to assess the occurrence of sleep disorders and their consequences for the body in a group of representative nursing staff working in a shift and night system.

PARTICIPANTS

The study was conducted among 126 nurses who are generally healthy, employed in health care facilities in the Małopolskie voivodship.

METHODS

The Athens Insomnia Scale consisting of 8 test items was used to obtain research material: falling asleep, waking up at night, waking up in the morning, total sleep time, sleep quality, well-being the next day, mental and physical fitness the next day, and sleepiness during the next day. As well as an original questionnaire.

RESULTS

The research showed significant negative consequences of shift work on the health of health-care workers. The subjects noticed symptoms related to the nervous system, such as increased nervous tension 53%, lack of patience in 62% of all respondents. As many as 85% pointed to the negative impact of shift work on their family life, 82% of all respondents on social life and 56% of all respondents on sex life. The other variables were not confirmed.

CONCLUSIONS

Symptoms of insomnia are common among night-work nurses.