An Investigation of the actual circumstances and associated factors regarding insomnia among nurses working in hospitals

Abstract

Background: It has been reported that the prevalence of workers complaining of insomnia is high, and the current circumstances of nurses in particular, who are said to have irregular work schedules and high stress levels, are becoming serious. The purpose of the present study is to clarify the actual circumstances regarding insomnia among nurses working in hospitals and to obtain basic materials for considering countermeasures for this insomnia.

Methods: In August 2020,anonymous self-administered questionnaire surveys were conducted among 373 nurses working at hospitals in Prefecture A. The survey content comprised the Athens Insomnia Scale (AIS).

Results: A total of 307 subjects were analyzed (response rate: 89.0%; valid response rate: 82.3%). Regarding the association between attributes and AIS scores, we observed significant differences between the presence or absence of nursing (long-term care), work style, and sleep duration. Regarding the associations between the eight AIS items, we observed significant differences between the presence or absence of nursing (long-term care) and “functioning during the day” ; between work style and “sleep induction,” “total sleep duration,” “overall quality of sleep,” “sense of well-being during the day,” and “functioning during the day”; and between sleep duration and “sleep induction,” “awakenings during the night,” “total sleep duration,” “overall quality of sleep,” “sense of well-being during the day,” and “functioning during the day.”

Conclusion: The mixing of second and third shifts was most likely to cause insomnia, and third shifts caused nurses to take longer to fall asleep. “Functioning during the day” was lower among those with insomnia and those who conducted nursing duties (long-term care).