Sleep Quality and Mood State in Resident Physicians during COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract

Since the novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) has spread worldwide, healthcare workers—resident physicians in particular—have been hugely involved in facing the COVID-19 pandemic, experiencing unprecedented challenges in fighting the disease. We aimed to evaluate the prevalence of poor sleep quality, daytime sleepiness, and alterations in mood state profiles in this category. This cross-sectional study, conducted in 2020, enrolled 119 subjects from a university hospital in southern Italy. Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS), Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), and Profile of Mood States (POMS) questionnaires were administered to physicians divided into four areas: anesthesiology, medicine, service, and surgery. In the overall sample, approximately 45% reported poor sleep quality, although only nine subjects (8%) reported an ESS score that suggested excessive daytime sleepiness. Alterations in mood profiles were also observed; the Vigor and Fatigue factors were the most altered. In particular, anesthesiologists seem to be the most affected category, showing a profound decrease in Vigor with a concomitant increase in Fatigue. Considering the possible consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic, preventive measures should be adopted, especially those aimed at facilitating a better turnover of physicians, optimizing the working schedule, and improving the organization of work.

Stress and Coping Strategies of Nurses Working with Patients Infected with and Not Infected with SARS-CoV-2 Virus

“…Moreover, the study showed that the staff working with patients infected with the SARS-CoV-2 virus reported a higher level of occupational burnout and lower level of job satisfaction than the staff working with patients not infected with the SARS-CoV-2 virus [17]. Other studies also confirmed a high intensity of stress (24 according to PSS-10), as well as symptoms of depression, anxiety and insomnia among healthcare staff working with patients infected with SARS-CoV-2 [18][19][20], especially among women [21][22][23], which tended to increase along with respondents' age [24]. No relationship between age and the level of intensity of stress was found in the authors' own study.…”

Quality of Life, Insomnia and Coping Strategies during COVID-19 Pandemic in Hospital Workers. A Cross-Sectional Study

“…Coronavirus disease (COVID- 19), which started in Wuhan, China, in December 2019, became a pandemic in a few months, leading to extraordinary risks to human beings [1]. Despite the majority of infected subjects having a moderate illness and about 10-15% of patients developing grave complications [2], until 21 October 2021, about 4.9 million deaths were declared, with over 241 million cases confirmed globally [3].…”

“…The considerable psychological impact of the COVID-19 pandemic has undoubtedly influenced feelings and behaviors [ 18 , 19 ], requiring the adoption of coping strategies to play a buffering role on stress and have a preventive effect on mental health [ 20 ]. Different coping strategies are used depending on external factors (such as cultural and workplace context or geographical area) [ 21 ] and individual components (e.g., rage, terror, or sadness) [ 22 ].…”

Work Performance, Mood and Sleep Alterations in Home Office Workers during the COVID-19 Pandemic

“…The literature suggests that a poor sleep quality can cause tiredness, thereby leading to reduced levels of alertness and amplified irritability [ 32 , 33 ]. Although our statistical models did not find gender as a predictor of poor sleep quality, more women than men (10 vs. 0) complained about nightmares, resulting in a statistically significant gender difference and confirming that women are more susceptible to sleep disturbances [ 34 , 35 ].…”