The effect of sleep hygiene and sleep deterioration on quality of life in shiftworking healthcare professionals

Introduction Deterioration in sleep quality and sleep hygiene may result in impairments on mental and physical health leading to deterioration of quality of life (QoL) in healthcare shift workers. We aimed to determine the presence of sleep deterioration as well as poor sleep hygiene, and if any, the effects of these on health-related outcomes. Methods This study prospectively included healthcare professionals who did and did not work shifts (n=90 and n=66, respectively). The participants completed the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), Sleep Hygiene Index (SHI), Epworth Daytime Sleepiness Scale (EDSS), Short Form-36 quality of life scale (SF-36), and the Beck depression (BD) and Beck anxiety (BA) scales. Results Although the total PSQI scores showed a tendency to increase in shift workers, no significant differences were observed in total scores as well as subdivisions, except for an increase in sleep latency. Increased SHI total score in shift workers were represent more deteriorated sleep hygiene behavior (p=0.002). Increased needs of daytime nap, variability of both go and get out of bed and stay in bed longer than usual were recorded respectively (p: 0.001, p: 0.001, p: 0.001, p: 0.001, p: 0.001). SHI had prominent effects on QoL parameters such as vitality (r=-0.284, p=0.007), social function (r=-0.323, p=0.002), mental health (r=-0.274, p=0.009), and calculated mental component total score (r=-0.302, p=0.004). Conclusion In our study, we clearly detected prolonged sleep latency and poor sleep hygiene in shift workers which should be responsible for the deterioration of QoL.