Sleep quality, level of daytime sleepiness and fatigue among working nursing students

Abstract

Introduction: The aim of this study was to assess sleep quality, level of daytime sleepiness and fatigue among working nursing students and to determine possible relations among them. Methods: It was a descriptive, analytical cross-sectional study conducted in two Colleges of Health Studies in Serbia and Montenegro on a sample of 76 students. Instruments used in this research included: The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) for the assessment of sleep quality, The Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) for the assessment of level of daytime sleepiness, The Chalder Fatigue Questionnaire (CFQ) for the assessment of fatigue rates, the socio-demographic questionnaire and the questionnaire on behavior and lifestyle factors. Results: Sleep quality was poor in 65.8% of students and symptoms of daytime sleepiness and fatigue were confirmed in 50.0% and 55.3% of students. The average values of the total score in the PSQI, ESS and CFQ were significantly different with respect to gender, shift work and satisfaction with the current work schedule. The strong positive correlation was calculated between sleep quality, excessive daytime sleepiness and fatigue severity. The findings of the present study suggest the need for establishing effective educational strategies that promote healthy sleep among nursing students and nurses, as well as the implementation of sleep hygiene programmess in higher education of nursing studies.