COVID-19 epidemic effects on sleep quality among health sector workers: A follow up study

ABSTRACT

Health care workers (HCWs) were vulnerable to sleep disturbances in normal circumstances. Poor sleep quality (PSQ) is common during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) epidemic. The aim of this study is evaluation of sleep quality among healthcare workers during COVID-19 epidemic in a cohort study. In a follow-up study, we assessed sleep quality in 453 Iranian HCW participants in late-April 2021, after approximately 8 weeks of the epidemic of COVID-19. In order to compare the sleep quality in the two time intervals, during and before COVID-19, we used the recorded data of the same group of participants who were enrolled in a study named SHAHWAR (SHAhroud Health care Workers Associated Research) cohort that is focused on the health of HCWs who work at the Shahroud university of medical sciences. Data collection process in the SHAHWAR study started on October 2, 2019 and continued until February 19, 2020. Our results showed sleep quality worsened among shift-workers during COVID-19 outbreak; however, it was improved among non-shift staff. Sleep quality was more likely to be worsening if HCWs had shift-working roles [OR: 1.84(1.11–3.06), and if they experienced death in their families [OR: 5.06(1.60–12.80)]; however, having a paramedical role was a protective effect [OR: 0.52(0.27–092)], for poor quality sleep. Sleep quality worsened during the epidemic among HCWs. A greater impact, in terms of higher PSQI index, in this group of workers was seen in shift working staff.

KEYWORDS:

• Epidemic
• HCWs
• sleep quality
• Iran
• COVID-19
• cohort

Acknowledgements

We would like to thank managers and staffs of SHAHWAR Cohort Study, for helping us to conduct this study. This work funded by Iran’s Ministry of Health and Medical Education (MoHME) and Shahroud University of Medical Sciences (SHMU). The Shahroud University of Medical Sciences deputy research contributed in funding used in the SHAHWAR cohort through Grant No. 9738 & 9921.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This work was funded by the Shahroud University of Medical Sciences [Grant number 9738, 9921].