Relationship between sleep quality and health status in resident physicians

BACKGROUND. The aim of the study was to examine the relationship between sleep quality, physical and mental health, quality of life, and fatigue levels in healthcare personnel. 

PATIENTS AND METHODS. The study included 103 resident physicians (52 men, 49 women) with an average age of 32.4 ± 5.1 years. Validated questionnaires were used for a comprehensive assessment: the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), Athens Insomnia Scale (AIS), Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS), Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS), EQ-5D-5L with EQ-VAS, and the SF-12 Health Survey. Participants were divided into three groups based on their medical specialty: Group 1 internal medicine (62 people), Group 2 surgery (30 people), and Group 3 functional diagnostics (11 people). No statistically significant differences in sleep duration were found between the groups. Among functional diagnostics residents, poor sleep quality, increased sleep latency, lower life satisfaction, and insomnia were more prevalent. 

RESULTS. Sleep duration was negatively correlated with obesity, years of education, anxiety, stress tolerance, sleepiness, and sleep quality (higher PSQI scores), and positively correlated with life satisfaction. Life satisfaction was significantly lower among respondents who lived away from their families, were physically inactive, and had insufficient sleep duration and poor sleep quality. The visual analog scale (EQ-VAS) included a summary assessment of mobility, self-care, usual activities, pain, and anxiety; however, no statistically significant relationships were found for any of these individual indicators. No statistically significant associations were found regarding the SF-12 Health-Related Quality of Life scale scores. 

CONCLUSION. Our study involved young doctors, many of whom presented with sleep disturbances (often unrecognized), despite the absence of obesity, anxiety, depression, and relatively high social well-being. Undoubtedly, their risk of developing chronic non-communicable diseases and professional burnout will increase over time. Therefore, prevention programs for at least cardiovascular diseases in medical personnel should incorporate routine monitoring of sleep parameters and non-pharmacological interventions.

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