Job-related factors associated with changes in sleep quality among healthcare workers screening for 2019 novel coronavirus infection: a longitudinal study

Abstract

Background Sleep disorders may exacerbate many physical and mental health conditions, causing difficulty function in a healthcare setting. Workers screening for the 2019 novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) infection have a high risk of not only occupational exposure to the virus but also sleep disorders. However, the job-related factors associated with reduced sleep quality remain unclear. Methods All healthcare workers temporarily scheduled to screen the 2019-nCoV patients were asked to complete a self-administered questionnaire that included questions on demographics, job-related factors, and sleep quality as assessed using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). Sleep quality was assessed over a one-month follow-up period. Results A total of 116 doctors and 99 nurses were recruited for this study. The total scheduled work time was 14.78 ± 6.69 days during follow-up. Some job-related factors, such as number of work days, years of work experience, and subjective psychological stress, were associated with changes in the PSQI score. During the study, some workers tried out cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) for sleep disorders using methods that were available online and easily accessible. Adopting online CBT was shown to be associated with scores of components of sleep quality, sleep latency, and sleep disturbance (β = −0.152, P = 0.01; β = −0.175, P = 0.008; and β = −0.158, P = 0.011, respectively). Conclusions Healthcare workers involved in screening for 2019-nCoV experienced reduced sleep quality, and a reasonable work schedule may help with maintaining sleep quality. In addition, interventions for healthcare workers should target self-help sleep assistance.

What We Have Learned from Two Decades of Epidemics and Pandemics: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of the Psychological Burden of Frontline Healthcare Workers

“…The seven studies [ 43 , 51 , 55 , 64 , 75 , 76 , 123 ] with a longitudinal design showed satisfactory quality, meeting seven or more criteria. However, no study met all eleven criteria.…”

“…Namely, 29 studies performed data collection in earlier phases of the outbreak in the respective country [64-66, 77, 79-81, 84-89, 91, 96, 98, 100, 103, 105, 106, 108, 109, 111-115, 120, 126], nine during the outbreak [69, 73, 82, 95, 97, 101, 110, 118, 125], 32 in later phases [41, 42, 44-46, 50, 53, 54, 56, 59-61, 67, 68, 70-72, 74, 78, 83, 90, 92-94, 102, 104, 107, 117, 119, 121, 122, 124], and eight after the end of the outbreak [47-49, 52, 57, 58, 63, 99]. Another seven studies focusing on SARS [43, 51, 55], MERS [64], and COVID-19 [75, 76, 123] also included follow-up data.…”

“…64-66, 77, 79-81, 84-89, 91, 96, 98, 100, 103, 105, 106, 108, 109, 111-115, 120, 126], nine during the outbreak[69,73,82,95,97,101,110,118,125], 32 in later phases[41, 42, 44-46, 50, 53, 54, 56, 59-61, 67, 68, 70-72, 74, 78, 83, 90, 92-94, 102, 104, 107, 117, 119, 121, 122, 124], and eight after the end of the outbreak[47-49, 52, 57, 58, 63, 99]. Another seven studies focusing on SARS[43,51,55], MERS[64], and COVID-19[75,76,123] also included follow-up data. More than two-thirds of the studies (n = 60) [41-45, 47, 48, 50, 51, 53-55, 57, 59, 60, 62-68, 71, 72, 74, 75, 78-80, 83, 87-93, 99-105, 107-109, 111-117, 119-122, 124, 126] compared psychological and psychosomatic symptoms between frontline staff and other groups of participants (e.g., non-frontline healthcare providers, general public).…”

Experiences and management of physician psychological symptoms during infectious disease outbreaks: a rapid review

“…Sixty-one studies reported on fear related to an infectious disease outbreak [ 29 – 31 , 35 – 37 , 43 , 46 , 53 , 55 , 61 , 64 , 72 , 74 , 78 – 83 , 85 – 87 , 94 , 95 , 99 , 100 , 107 – 109 , 115 , 117 , 119 , 123 , 128 , 131 , 132 , 134 , 142 , 146 , 147 , 155 – 173 ]. Most of the studies ( n = 52) reported physician’s fear of infecting themselves or their family.…”

“…Physicians reported the importance of having social support from friends, family, colleagues, and professionals (e.g., counsellors) in 29 studies [ 28 , 30 , 39 , 43 , 44 , 48 , 56 , 58 , 67 , 72 , 78 , 83 , 91 , 99 , 102 , 106 , 115 , 119 , 131 , 150 , 155 , 163 , 172 , 192 , 202 – 205 ]. Several studies ( n = 29) described positive personal coping strategies such as maintaining a positive attitude and resilience [ 37 , 46 , 83 , 100 , 106 , 108 , 136 , 202 , 205 , 206 ], practicing self-care (e.g., physical activity, eating well, resting, engaging in activities they enjoy) [ 30 , 35 , 56 , 65 , 70 , 91 , 102 , 103 , 117 , 119 , 129 , 131 , 150 , 151 , 207 ], and engaging with religious practices [ 39 , 46 , 131 , 205 ] as a way to mitigate negative psychological outcomes. In contrast, two studies reported that physicians engaged in avoidance coping strategies (e.g., screaming, crying, denial, self-blame, disengaging, substance abuse, etc.)…”