Morningness, eveningness chronotype traits and sleep quality among healthcare workers in shift work-a cross-sectional study from a tertiary care hospital in Kerala

Abstract

Background: Sleep is basic physiological requirement. Sleep quality have impact on employee behaviour like alertness at work, error-making and absenteeism. The sleep disorders of nurses and other allied health workers have been reported as a risk factor for patient safety.Studies have found high prevalence of poor sleep quality among nurses. Main objective of this study was aimed to find out the morningness, eveningness chronotypes and sleep quality among allied health workers in shift work.Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out among nursing and other allied health workers working in shifts using Pittsburgh sleep quality index (PSQI) and morningness-eveningness questionnaire (MEQ). After final scores participants were categorized as having good or bad quality of sleep and different chronotypes as per the scoring guidelines given. Chi-square test, Pearson’s partial correlation analyses done using SPSS software.Results: Only 26.9% had good quality sleep (mean PSQI score 8.9±4.5). Among chronotypes 69.9% were intermediateness and 30.1% were moderate morningness (mean MEQ score 55.5±7). 87.1% participants go to sleep within one hour after dinner. 40% use mobile phones in bed. 31.2% took up to 30 mins (mean 22.15±13.8) to get asleep. Strong negative correlation found between the sleep hours and total PSQI score (r=-0.495; p=0.000).Conclusions: Higher prevalence of poor quality of sleep with intermediateness as preferred circadian chronotype, there was also a strong negative correlation found between the hours of sound sleep and the total PSQI score.