P3 Sleep for your own health: a pan-uk survey on paediatricians’ experience of sleep around shift work

Abstract

Aim Healthy sleep practices improve alertness and performance, with positive benefits to personal health and patient safety. Last year we surveyed the London School of Paediatrics (LSP) trainees’ regarding their experience of night shifts. These were used to raise the profile of this issue, and to promote mandatory training on healthy sleep. We now sought to assess the impact of this educational drive, and to survey the experiences of all UK paediatricians on this topic. Methods An online survey was created using Typeform and disseminated to all UK paediatricians via the RCPCH Heads of School, local TPDs and a link on e-portfolio. Results 768 paediatricians responded, with participants from every UK deanery. Most represented were West Midlands (15%), London (13%) and Scotland (11%). 704 (92%) of respondents were trainees, representing roughly 16% of all UK trainees. Outside of London 78% of respondents had never received any teaching on healthy sleep practices, and 94% stated they would find this beneficial. Within London 77% of respondents had received teaching, mostly during ST1 or local induction. 76% of paediatricians that received training altered either their core sleep practices (11%), their approach to night shift work (41%), or both (24%). We then surveyed attitudes to the taking of short naps during statutory breaks on night shifts. Because of the LSP’s on-going work to raise awareness on this issue, we separate London and non-London responses. Outside of London 36% of departments actively support naps, 25% actively discourage them. Within London 48% of departments support (an increase from 15% last year) and 10% discourage (a reduction from 30%). Unfortunately even where support is in place adequate facilities are lacking in over 50% of departments. Conclusions Healthy sleep practices are important, in particular for shift workers. This survey of UK paediatricians demonstrates a lack for training in this area. When teaching is delivered, it results in a change in sleep practices in over 75% of cases. On-going work by the LSP to raise awareness of these issues has resulted in local departmental changes, however there remains much to improve, both locally and nationally.