Abstract
AimTo estimate the prevalence of sleep medication and melatonin use among nurses and to assess if factors related to work, sleep or mental health, were associated with such use.DesignA cross‐sectional study.MethodsA questionnaire survey including 2,798 Norwegian nurses. Associations were estimated using a modified Poisson regression model.ResultsIn total, 7.5%, 4.6% and 2.0% of the nurses included in the present study reported prescribed sleep medication, over‐the‐counter sleep medication or melatonin use in the last year, respectively. Short sleep duration, sleep problems and psychological conditions were strongly associated with both prescribed and over‐the‐counter sleep medication use. Nurses who worked more than 60 night shifts in the last year were at increased risk of sleep medication use.
Highlights
In the general population, prevalence rates for chronic and current use of sleep medication are commonly estimated to be between 4% and 10% (Ohayon & Lader, 2002; Omvik et al, 2010; Sakshaug et al, 2017)
Nurses who had worked more than 60 night shifts last year, had approximately a 2-fold increased risk of prescribed and over- the-counter sleep medication use compared to nurses who worked no night shifts last year (adjusted relative risks (RR) 1.75, 95% confidence intervals (CI) 1.12–2.73 for prescribed sleep medication and aRR 1.99, 95% CI 1.05–3.75 for over-the-counter sleep medication) (Table 3)
Nurses without children living at home had an increased risk of prescribed sleep medication and over-the-counter sleep medication use compared to nurses with children at home
Summary
Prevalence rates for chronic and current use of sleep medication are commonly estimated to be between 4% and 10% (Ohayon & Lader, 2002; Omvik et al, 2010; Sakshaug et al, 2017). One of the above-mentioned studies have investigated the association between use of hypnotics and demographic and health factors and found use to be increased in nurses aged ≥27 years old, and in nurses with symptoms of depression, SWD and insomnia (Futenma et al, 2015). Neither of these studies included information about over-the-counter sleep medication or melatonin use these are commonly used sleep aids in the general population
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
