Shift work sleep disorder and associated factors among healthcare professionals working at Jimma University Medical Center, Southwest Ethiopia, 2022: a cross-sectional study.

OBJECTIVES

Shift work sleep disorder is a circadian rhythm sleep-wake disorder characterised by insomnia and/or excessive sleepiness associated with a shift work schedule that overlaps with habitual sleep time. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of shift work sleep disorders and associated factors among healthcare professionals working at Jimma University Medical Center, Southwest Ethiopia.

DESIGN

Institutional-based cross-sectional study.

SETTING

Tertiary hospital in Southwest Ethiopia.

PARTICIPANTS

The data were collected using a self-administered questionnaire from health professionals recruited using a simple random sampling technique.

OUTCOME: Shift work-sleep disorder was assessed by the International Classification of Sleep Disorders, the Insomnia Severity Index and/or the Epworth Sleepiness Scale. A logistic regression analysis was conducted to determine the association between the predictor and the outcome variable. The ORs and 95% CIs were determined. Variables with a p value<0.05 were taken as statistically significant on multivariable analysis.

RESULT: 370 participants were involved in the study, yielding a response rate of 97.6%. The prevalence of shift work sleep disorder was 35.9% (n=133). Working in three shifts (Adjusted OR (AOR) 3.25, 95% CI=1.92 to 5.57), more than 11-night shifts per month (AOR 2.83, 95% CI=1.49 to 5.37), absence of nap (AOR 2, 95% CI=1.14 to 3.52), stress (AOR 4.4, 95% CI=2.36 to 8.2), fatigue (AOR 2.7, 95% CI=1.26 to 3.73), alcohol (AOR 3.9, 95% CI=1.79 to 8.47) and khat (AOR 4.40, 95% CI=1.76 to 10.96) use in the last 3 months was significantly associated with shift work sleep disorder.

CONCLUSION

One in three healthcare professionals working at Jimma University Medical Center had a sleep disorder related to shift work. Working in three shifts per day, having more than 11-night shifts per month, lack of naps, presence of stress, fatigue and substance use were found to be associated with shift work sleep disorder.