Prevalence, predictors and effects of shift work sleep disorder among nurses in a Nigerian teaching hospital

Abstract

Abstract Background This study evaluated the prevalence, predictors and effects of Shift Work Sleep Disorder (SWSD) among nurses in a Nigerian teaching hospital. Methods Eighty-eight nurses (44 each from the pool of shift and non-shift nurses), who emerged by simple random sampling, participated in the study. Socio-demographic data and health complaints were obtained with questionnaires. Each participant was assessed with Epworth sleepiness scale (ESS), insomnia severity index (ISI) and sleep log, while SWSD cases were ascertained by applying the International Classification of Sleep Disorders (ICSD-2) criteria. Body mass index, blood pressure, body temperature and salivary cortisol levels were also determined. Results Generally, results showed that the shift group; comprising of shift nurses, recorded higher values of biophysical profiles and more health complaints than the non-shift group (control); comprising of non-shift nurses. Also, 19 (43.2%) of the shift nurses fulfilled the criteria for SWSD, on this basis, the shift group was divided into two: SWSD (n = 19) and No SWSD (n = 25). And within the shift group, the SWSD group had higher systolic (p = 0.014), diastolic (p = 0.012), and mean arterial (p = 0.009) blood pressures; they also recorded higher temperature (p = 0.001), higher salivary cortisol levels (p = 0.027) and more health complaints. Conclusion The results of this study indicate that rotating shift work among nurses is associated with increased level of health complaints and physiologic indices of stress as well as sleep impairment.

Keywords

• Nurses
• Shift work sleep disorder
• Circadian rhythm
• Cortisol
• Nigerian-Africans