Sleep of Healthcare Workers During the COVID-19 Pandemic and the Role of Atypical Work Schedules: A Scoping Review

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has negatively impacted the well-being of healthcare workers (HCWs). HCWs are highly exposed to shift work and their work schedules have been subject to increasing unpredictability since the start of the pandemic. This review aims to: (1) map the studies providing information about factors associated with sleep characteristics in HCWs working in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic during the first and second waves and (2) examine the state of the evidence base in terms of the availability of information on the influence of atypical work schedules. A literature search was performed in PubMed. Studies containing information about factors (demographic; psychological; occupational; COVID-19-specific; work schedule; lifestyle; medical; or other) associated with various sleep characteristics among HCWs working in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic were included. Particular attention was paid to the availability of information on the role of atypical work schedules on HCW sleep. Fifty-seven articles met the inclusion criteria. Most studies were reports of quantitative cross-sectional surveys using self-report measures. Associations between female sex, frontline HCW status, psychological factors, and poorer sleep were observed. Six studies included a measure of shift work in their analyses, 5 of which reported an association between shift work status and sleep. A wide range of factors were investigated, with female sex, frontline HCW status, and psychological factors repeatedly demonstrating associations with poorer sleep. Sleep was predominantly measured in terms of self-reported sleep quality or insomnia symptoms. Few studies investigated the influence of atypical work schedules on HCW sleep in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. Research on this topic is lacking in terms of reliable and consistent measurements of sleep outcomes, longitudinal data, and knowledge about the influence of covariates such atypical work schedules, comorbidity, and medical history on HCW sleep.

The relationship between perceived organizational support and insomnia in Chinese nurses: The Serial multiple mediation analysis

“…Perceived control over work is a key factor affecting workers' perception of work stress. Research suggested that during the COVID-19 pandemic, atypical work schedules such as shift work status and extended working hours may create greater uncertainty for the healthcare workers, which will affect their sleep (Power et al, 2022). We defined the multiple mediating effects of psychological capital and occupational stress on the relationship between perceived organizational support and insomnia.…”

Workforce scheduling efficiency assessment in construction projects through a multi-objective optimization model in the COVID-19 context

“…Multi-Objective Optimization: The methodology employs a multi-objective optimization approach, which has been applied to a variety of construction projects [ 50 , 57 , 58 , 59 ] [ 47 , 48 , 49 , 50 ], to find a set of non-dominated solutions that form the Pareto frontier [ 61 , 62 ]. Then, a set of solutions belonging to the feasible region are determined [ 63 ].…”

“…Others designed a multi-objective mixed integer linear programming model to design a sustainable closed-loop supply chain network of face masks during the COVID [ 46 ]. Power et al [ 47 ] developed a study on healthcare workers by mapping the studies about factors associated with sleep characteristics in this type of employees working during the pandemic and then examining the availability of information on the influence of atypical work schedules. Lehnig et at.…”

Association between lifestyle behaviors and health-related quality of life among primary health care physicians in China: A cross-sectional study

“…Combined consideration of both occupational characteristics of healthcare professionals ( 23 , 30 , 42 ) [e.g. atypical work schedules ( 43 ), heavy workload and stress ( 44 )] and lifestyle behaviors which have been identified as potential factors affecting HRQoL in the Chinese population ( 39 , 45 – 47 ), lifestyle behaviors including daily routine, breakfast, sleep quality, smoking, drinking and physical activity should be taken into account. The absence of relative research on the relationship between such lifestyle behaviors and HRQoL among PHC physicians, however, is an impediment to health policy consideration for improving their HRQoL.…”