Sleep Improvement Effect on Sexual Life Quality Among Rotating Female Shift Workers: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Abstract

Background Poor sleep quality consequences among shift working nurses are well recognized. Aim To investigate the impact of sleep improvement on sexual quality of life. Methods The study was a parallel randomized controlled trial, conducted among 120 female nurses in 2 educational hospitals in the Northeast of Iran, Shahroud. Using random blocks of four, 120 eligible participants were randomly assigned to study groups. Data collecting tools included a demographic data questionnaire, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index to assess sleep quality, and the survey of sexual quality of life-female and Sexual Self-Efficacy Questionnaire to evaluate level of sexual quality of life and sexual self-efficacy, respectively. The intervention consisted of 3 weekly sleep intervention sessions that lasted from 90 to 120 minutes. Outcomes The study's primary and secondary outcomes were sleep quality, and the level of sexual self-efficacy and sexual quality of life, respectively. Results By 3-month follow-up, the loss to follow-up rate was 5.9%. The mean sleep quality score was 7.61 ± 2.26 in the recruited participants. Following the intervention, the sleep quality score showed statistically significant differences compared to the control group [mean difference (CI 99.98%), −1.89 (−2.40, −1.38)]. Participants in the intervention group showed modest increases in both measures; sexual self-efficacy [mean difference (CI 99.98%), 8.82 (6.83, 10.81)] and sexual quality of life [mean difference (CI 99.98%), 19.64 (18.08, 21.20)]. Clinical Implications These findings suggest that sleep improvement could promote the sexual quality of life among shift working nurses. Strengths & Limitations Strengths of this study include the use of a validated outcome measure. Focusing the study on female nurses and the small size of the study population are the limitations. Conclusion Improved sleep showed an impact on sexual quality of life among rotating female shift workers.

Associations between tactile intimacy and sleep quality in healthy adults: A systematic review

“…Most articles included some subjective method for assessing sleep quality (Afsahri et al, 2018; Costa et al, 2017; Dittami et al, 2007; Hislop, 2007; Junker et al, 2016; Khastar et al, 2020; Kirkman, 2010; Nozoe et al, 2014; Ogunbajo et al, 2020; Pallesen et al, 2020). Of these, eight articles used questionnaires (Afsahri et al, 2018; Costa et al, 2017; Junker et al, 2016; Khastar et al, 2020; Nozoe et al, 2014; Ogunbajo et al, 2020; Pallesen et al, 2020; Seehuus & Pigeon, 2018).…”

“…Study information are summarised in Table 3. Sampling methods were diverse and included snowballing techniques and recruitment in community hubs (Hislop, 2007; Ogunbajo et al, 2020), clinical centres (Afsahri et al, 2018; Khastar et al, 2020; Nozoe et al, 2014), university (Junker et al, 2016), or on social networks (Kirkman, 2010). One study drew a sample from a population registry (Pallesen et al, 2020), and one study used Amazon’s Mechanical Turk (Seehuus & Pigeon, 2018).…”

“…Of these, eight articles used questionnaires (Afsahri et al, 2018;Costa et al, 2017;Junker et al, 2016;Khastar et al, 2020;Nozoe et al, 2014;Ogunbajo et al, 2020;Pallesen et al, 2020;Seehuus & Pigeon, 2018). Of these, most articles used the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI; Afsahri et al, 2018;Costa et al, 2017;Khastar et al, 2020;Nozoe et al, 2014;Ogunbajo et al, 2020;Seehuus & Pigeon, 2018), which measures seven different components of sleep quality:…”

Individual Circadian Preference, Shift Work, and Risk of Medication Errors: A Cross-Sectional Web Survey among Italian Midwives

“…the Morningness-Eveningness Questionnaire (MEQ), consisting of 19 questions about personal daily sleep-wake habits and the times of day of preference of certain activities, with assigned points from 0 to 5, giving a possible overall score ranging from 16 to 86. Five categories can be identified: definitely E-type (16)(17)(18)(19)(20)(21)(22)(23)(24)(25)(26)(27)(28)(29)(30), moderately E-type (31-41), neither type or I-type (42-58), moderately M-type (59-69), and definitely M-type (70-86). For ease of interpretation, we considered moderately E-type as E-type (16-41 points) and moderately M-type as M-type (59-86 points).…”

“…However, despite these numbers, and even if nurses and midwives make up almost 50% of the global healthcare shift working workforce, much of the research addressed to the shift work area used men [26]. Female nurses working in rotating night shift were found to have significantly lower mean scores in job satisfaction, sleep, and psychological well-being as compared to day shift workers [27] and even impaired sexual self-efficacy and sexual quality of life [28]. There is an extreme paucity of studies conducted on midwives, although they play an important role in medical care: a systematic review of sleep-related/fatigue-management including more than 8600 participants, 89% females, did not find studies conducted in midwives [29].…”