Sleep quality and related factors in a sample of Turkish healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic: A cross-sectional study

Background Increasing workloads and psychological pressure have led to fatigue among healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic. Increasing stress and social isolation can also lead to sleep problems. The purpose of this study was to evaluate sleep quality and related factors among healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic in Turkey. Methods The data in this cross-sectional study were collected using an online questionnaire. This included sociodemographic data, the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support, the National Stressful Events Survey PTSD Short Scale and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index. Results Two hundred seventy-eight physicians, 104 nurses and 52 dentists were enrolled. The total prevalence of poor sleep quality was 56.7%. The prevalence of poor sleep quality was 67.3% in nurses, 55.4% in physicians and 42.3% in dentists. Poor sleep quality was more prevalent among women, nurses, hospital workers, frontline workers, individuals with <5 years of work experience, those with low social support and individuals with increased traumatic stress levels. High levels of social support and family social support were identified as protective factors against poor sleep quality. Multivariate regression analyses showed that poor sleep quality was significantly associated with working in hospitals and high traumatic stress levels during the COVID-19 pandemic. Conclusions Poor sleep quality was common among healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic. Working in hospitals and high traumatic stress levels were identified as factors associated with poor sleep quality.

Automated summary

During the COVID-19 pandemic in Turkey, healthcare workers experienced poor sleep quality with higher prevalence among women, nurses, hospital workers, frontline workers, individuals with <5 years of work experience, those with low social support, and individuals with increased traumatic stress levels. High levels of social support and family social support were identified as protective factors against poor sleep quality. Poor sleep quality was significantly associated with working in hospitals and high traumatic stress levels during the COVID-19 pandemic.