Sleep duration and satisfaction among physicians in tertiary public hospitals in China: a large sample national survey

Yinuo Wu,Yuanli Liu,Shichao Wu,Yi-Lang Tang,Feng Jiang

doi:10.1186/s12995-021-00298-z

Abstract

ObjectivesTo investigate the sleep duration and level of satisfaction among physicians in tertiary public hospitals in China, and to explore associated factors.MethodsA national online cross-sectional survey was conducted. Totally 20,786 physicians from 136 hospitals participated in the survey. Data were collected using an online self-reported questionnaire. Descriptive and logistic regression statistics were performed using the STATA software.ResultsThe mean total sleep duration was 6.37 ± 0.87 h. Of all participants, 61.06% (n = 12,691) reported short sleep duration (less than 7 h per day). 46.97% (n = 9764) were not satisfied with their sleep. An older age and job-related factors (longer working hours per week, specialty including internal medicine, Ob/GYN and emergency medicine, working more night shifts, heavier workload, and working in East China) were significantly associated with reported short sleep duration.ConclusionsThe majority of physicians in Chinese public hospitals experienced insufficient sleep duration. Changes are required to improve the wellbeing of physicians and patient outcomes.

Highlights

Sufficient sleep is crucial to human health, and it has been recommended that adults aged 18–60 years should have no less than 7 h of sleep per night to maintain optimal health [1]
According to the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) in the US, which consisted of a series of cross-sectional national surveys, the prevalence of short sleep duration was between 29 and 31% in physicians of different specialties [6]
In the survey of Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS), 39.7% of American healthcare practitioners slept less than 7 h per day [7]

Summary

Introduction

Sufficient sleep is crucial to human health, and it has been recommended that adults aged 18–60 years should have no less than 7 h of sleep per night to maintain optimal health [1]. Short sleep duration (defined as less than 7 h of sleep per night) has been linked to multiple adverse health outcomes [2]. Sleep insufficiency impairs people’s cognitive performance, and increases the risk of performance errors, such as transportation accidents [3]. Physicians with short sleep durations are more likely to have poor health conditions, increased alcohol and medication use, and serious medical errors [4, 5]. According to the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) in the US, which consisted of a series of cross-sectional national surveys, the prevalence of short sleep duration (less than 7 h/night) was between 29 and 31% in physicians of different specialties [6].

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Methods

Results

Conclusion