Sleep disorders among nurses and other health care workers in Poland during the COVID-19 pandemic

• Published in: Applied nursing research 2021-06, Vol.59, p.151412-151412, Article 151412
• Main Authors: Krupa, Sabina, Filip, Dawid, Mędrzycka-Dąbrowska, Wioletta, Lewandowska, Katarzyna, Witt, Paweł, Ozga, Dorota
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Age Factors; Anxiety - etiology; Anxiety - therapy; COVID-19; COVID-19 - psychology; Cross-Sectional Studies; Fear - psychology; Female; Health care workers; Health Personnel - psychology; Humans; Insomnia Severity Index; Male; Middle Aged; Nurses; Poland; SARS-CoV-2; Sleep Wake Disorders - etiology; Sleep Wake Disorders - therapy; Socioeconomic Factors; Young Adult
• ISSN: 0897-1897; 1532-8201
• DOI: 10.1016/j.apnr.2021.151412

The profession of nurses involves exposure to harmful agents. Despite numerous international studies on the occurrence of sleep disorders in nurses, most studies lacked an assessment of the dependence on the occurrence of the situation causing fear and anxiety which is a highly contagious. Determining the relationship between the occurrence of sleep disorders and socio-demographic variables of medical personnel during the COVID-19 epidemic. This is a cross-sectional study conducted online involving 336 health professionals. Insomnia among staff was determined at the level of Subthreshold insomnia and Clinical insomnia (moderate severity). Suspicion or confirmed COVID-19 had an effect on the occurrence of sleep disorders in the study group of medical personnel. Taking into account the statistical error of 6%, the sleep disorders concern about 40% of professionally active nurses and midwives in Poland. Worsening of insomnia was observed in people with the possibility of contact with a patient with COVID-19 in the workplace. Insomnia was more common in respondents over 25 years of age. Psychosocial interventions are needed to help healthcare staff better respond to COVID-19 and future epidemics. •Although there has been international research on sleep disorders in nurses, most studies lacked an assessment of their occurrence in the extreme situation, which is a highly contagious disease. Systemic assessment of sleep disorders among registered nurses specific to the situation of COVID-19 studies fill the needed gap.•This article offers practical tips for hospitals managements and charge nurses, which should be taken into account during working healthcare in wards during a pandemic.•Womens and people over the age of 50 are more affected by subthreshold insomnia•Caring for a patient with a confirmed result in the workplace COVID-19 is a risk factor for insomnia.