Ann E. Rogers

Sleep, stress and compensatory behaviors in Australian nurses and midwives

OBJECTIVE To describe sleep, stress and compensatory behaviors in nurses and midwives. METHODS The study included 41 midwives and 21 nurses working in Australian hospitals between 2005 and 2009. Participation was voluntary. All participants recorded on a daily basis their work and sleep hours, levels of stress and exhaustion, caffeine intake and use of sleep aids for a month (1,736 days, 1,002 work shifts). RESULTS Participants reported moderate to high levels of stress and exhaustion on 20-40% of work days; experienced sleep disruption on more than 50% of work days; struggled to remain awake on 27% of work days; and suffered extreme drowsiness or experienced a near accident while travelling home on 9% of workdays. Age, perceived sleep duration and work hours were significant predictors of caffeine intake. About 60% of participants reported using sleep aids (about 20% reported taking prescription medications and 44% of nurses and 9% of midwives reported alcohol use as a sleep aid at least once during the study). Stress and workdays were significant predictors of sedative use. Overall, 22% reported being indifferent or mildly dissatisfied with their job. CONCLUSIONS Sleep problems, high levels of stress and exhaustion and low job satisfaction are prevalent among nurses and midwives. The use of alcohol and sleeping pills as sleep aids, and the use of caffeine to help maintain alertness is also common. Nurses and midwives may use caffeine to compensate for reduced sleep, especially on workdays, and sleeping pills to cope with their daily work-related stress.OBJETIVO: Descrever sono, estresse e comportamentos compensatorios em enfermeiras e parteiras. METODOS: O estudo incluiu 41 enfermeiras 21 parteiras em hospitais australianos de 2005 a 2009. A participacao foi voluntaria. Os participantes registraram diariamente as horas de trabalho, sono, stress e niveis de exaustao, cafeina e uso de ajuda para dormir durante um mes (1.736 dias, 1.002 turnos). RESULTADOS: Os participantes relataram de moderados a elevados niveis de stress e de exaustao em 20%-40% dos dias de trabalho; experimentaram disturbios do sono em mais de 50% dos dias de trabalho; relataram esforco para permanecer acordado em 27% dos dias de trabalho; e sofreram sonolencia extrema ou acidente perto de casa em 9% dos dias de trabalho. Idade, duracao do sono percebida e jornadas foram preditores significativos da ingestao de cafeina. Aproximadamente 60% dos participantes relataram utilizar a ajuda para dormir: cerca de 20% relataram uso de medicacao prescrita e 44% das enfermeiras e 9% das parteiras consumiam alcool como auxilio para dormir pelo menos uma vez durante o estudo. Estresse e dias de trabalho foram preditores significativos do uso de sedativos. Em geral, 22% relataram ser indiferente, ou ligeiramente insatisfeito com seu trabalho. CONCLUSOES: Problemas no sono, estresse e exaustao elevados e diminuicao na satisfacao no trabalho sao prevalentes. Sao comuns o uso de alcool e de medicamentos para dormir, e consumo de cafeina para se manter alerta. Enfermeiras e parteiras parecem usar a cafeina para compensar a reducao do sono, especialmente em dias de trabalho, e usar soniferos para compensar o estresse diario.

Racial/ethnic sleep disparities in US school-aged children and adolescents: a review of the literature

&NA; Sleep is essential for optimal health, well‐being, and cognitive functioning, and yet nationwide, youth are not obtaining consistent, adequate, or high‐quality sleep. In fact, more than two‐thirds of US adolescents are sleeping less than 8 hours nightly on school nights. Racial and ethnic minority children and adolescents are at an increased risk of having shorter sleep duration and poorer sleep quality than their white peers. In this review, we critically examined and compared results from 23 studies that have investigated racial/ethnic sleep disparities in American school‐aged children and adolescents ages 6‐19 years. We found that White youth generally had more sufficient sleep than minority youth, Hispanics had more than Blacks, and there was inconclusive evidence for Asians and other minorities. Recommendations for researchers include the following: (1) explore underlying causes of the disparities of these subpopulations, with a particular interest in identifying modifiable causes; (2) examine factors that may be impacted by racial/ethnic sleep disparities; (3) use a multidimensional approach to measuring sleep disparities; and (4) examine how beliefs about sleep are patterned by race/ethnicity. Understanding sleep disparities can inform interventions, policies, and educational programs to minimize sleep disparities and their impact on health, psychological, and educational outcomes.

Sleep, Lifestyle Behaviors, and Cardiometabolic Health Markers in Overweight/Obese Young Adults: A Pilot Study Using the SenseWear® Armband

Aim: This pilot study examined associations between sleep quality and metabolic risk profiles, underlying hormones, inflammatory markers, and behaviors in overweight and obese young adults, aged 18–29 years. Design: Cross-sectional, descriptive, correlational study design. Method: A partial sample (n = 29) was re-recruited from a parent study on screening for risk of early-onset diabetes. BodyMedia’s SenseWear® armband was used to assess sleep quality. Based on the percentage of consolidated sleep days during the past week, participants were classified as poor, fair, or good sleepers. Multiple multivariate general linear models were used to examine group differences in study variables after adjusting for obesity impact. Results: There were no significant differences among groups in age (mean 23.5 ± 2.9 years) or body mass index (mean 38.0 ± 8.9 kg/m2). Good sleepers (n = 12, 41.4%) showed the longest nocturnal sleep duration (7:53 ± 1:00 hr), followed by fair (n = 12, 41.4%, 7:23 ± 1:34 hr) and poor sleepers (n = 5, 17.2%, 5:34 ± 0:56 hr). Poor sleepers showed the highest plasma resistin (η2 = .103) and ghrelin (η2 = .205) levels and caloric (η2 = .255) and sodium (η2 = .156) intakes. No differences in clinical metabolic markers or serum leptin or adiponectin were observed. Conclusions: Overweight/obese young adults had irregular sleep schedules and patterns, indicators of poor sleep quality, that were possibly associated with changes in dietary behaviors and underlying plasma hormones. In addition to traditional clinical cardiometabolic markers, plasma resistin and ghrelin may be good predictors of heightened vulnerability to cardiometabolic diseases in overweight/obese young adults with poor-quality sleep.

Scheduled Sleep Periods as an Adjuvant Treatment for Narcolepsy

Publisher Summary Scheduled sleep periods are indicated for patients with narcolepsy who are unable to remain awake during the day. Scheduled sleep periods (naps) and good sleep hygiene have traditionally been recommended for management of excessive daytime sleepiness in narcoleptic patients. However, due to their limited efficacy, naps and good sleep hygiene are no longer recommended as the sole treatments for narcolepsy. The treatment is contraindicated in narcoleptic patients with recent increases in excessive daytime sleepiness. Since obstructive sleep apnea is common in patients with narcolepsy, all patients who report an increase in excessive daytime sleepiness need to be evaluated for obstructive sleep apnea. This intervention is suitable for narcoleptic patients who prefer not to take stimulant medications, and/or those patients whose medications do not completely relieve their excessive daytime sleepiness.

Sleep disorders, depression and anxiety are associated with adverse safety outcomes in healthcare workers: A prospective cohort study

The objective of the study was to determine if sleep disorder, depression or anxiety screening status was associated with safety outcomes in a diverse population of hospital workers. A sample of shift workers at four hospitals participated in a prospective cohort study. Participants were screened for five sleep disorders, depression and anxiety at baseline, then completed prospective monthly surveys for the next 6 months to capture motor vehicle crashes, near‐miss crashes, occupational exposures and medical errors. We tested the associations between sleep disorders, depression and anxiety and adverse safety outcomes using incidence rate ratios adjusted for potentially confounding factors in a multivariable negative binomial regression model. Of the 416 hospital workers who participated, two in five (40.9%) screened positive for a sleep disorder and 21.6% screened positive for depression or anxiety. After multivariable adjustment, screening positive for a sleep disorder was associated with 83% increased incidence of adverse safety outcomes. Screening positive for depression or anxiety increased the risk by 63%. Sleep disorders and mood disorders were independently associated with adverse outcomes and contributed additively to risk. Our findings suggest that screening for sleep disorders and mental health screening can help identify individuals who are vulnerable to adverse safety outcomes. Future research should evaluate sleep and mental health screening, evaluation and treatment programmes that may improve safety.

Sueño, estrés y comportamientos compensatorios por enfermeras y parteras australianas

OBJECTIVE To describe sleep, stress and compensatory behaviors in nurses and midwives. METHODS The study included 41 midwives and 21 nurses working in Australian hospitals between 2005 and 2009. Participation was voluntary. All participants recorded on a daily basis their work and sleep hours, levels of stress and exhaustion, caffeine intake and use of sleep aids for a month (1,736 days, 1,002 work shifts). RESULTS Participants reported moderate to high levels of stress and exhaustion on 20-40% of work days; experienced sleep disruption on more than 50% of work days; struggled to remain awake on 27% of work days; and suffered extreme drowsiness or experienced a near accident while travelling home on 9% of workdays. Age, perceived sleep duration and work hours were significant predictors of caffeine intake. About 60% of participants reported using sleep aids (about 20% reported taking prescription medications and 44% of nurses and 9% of midwives reported alcohol use as a sleep aid at least once during the study). Stress and workdays were significant predictors of sedative use. Overall, 22% reported being indifferent or mildly dissatisfied with their job. CONCLUSIONS Sleep problems, high levels of stress and exhaustion and low job satisfaction are prevalent among nurses and midwives. The use of alcohol and sleeping pills as sleep aids, and the use of caffeine to help maintain alertness is also common. Nurses and midwives may use caffeine to compensate for reduced sleep, especially on workdays, and sleeping pills to cope with their daily work-related stress.OBJETIVO: Descrever sono, estresse e comportamentos compensatorios em enfermeiras e parteiras. METODOS: O estudo incluiu 41 enfermeiras 21 parteiras em hospitais australianos de 2005 a 2009. A participacao foi voluntaria. Os participantes registraram diariamente as horas de trabalho, sono, stress e niveis de exaustao, cafeina e uso de ajuda para dormir durante um mes (1.736 dias, 1.002 turnos). RESULTADOS: Os participantes relataram de moderados a elevados niveis de stress e de exaustao em 20%-40% dos dias de trabalho; experimentaram disturbios do sono em mais de 50% dos dias de trabalho; relataram esforco para permanecer acordado em 27% dos dias de trabalho; e sofreram sonolencia extrema ou acidente perto de casa em 9% dos dias de trabalho. Idade, duracao do sono percebida e jornadas foram preditores significativos da ingestao de cafeina. Aproximadamente 60% dos participantes relataram utilizar a ajuda para dormir: cerca de 20% relataram uso de medicacao prescrita e 44% das enfermeiras e 9% das parteiras consumiam alcool como auxilio para dormir pelo menos uma vez durante o estudo. Estresse e dias de trabalho foram preditores significativos do uso de sedativos. Em geral, 22% relataram ser indiferente, ou ligeiramente insatisfeito com seu trabalho. CONCLUSOES: Problemas no sono, estresse e exaustao elevados e diminuicao na satisfacao no trabalho sao prevalentes. Sao comuns o uso de alcool e de medicamentos para dormir, e consumo de cafeina para se manter alerta. Enfermeiras e parteiras parecem usar a cafeina para compensar a reducao do sono, especialmente em dias de trabalho, e usar soniferos para compensar o estresse diario.

Sono, estresse e comportamentos compensatórios por enfermeiras e parteiras australianas

OBJECTIVE To describe sleep, stress and compensatory behaviors in nurses and midwives. METHODS The study included 41 midwives and 21 nurses working in Australian hospitals between 2005 and 2009. Participation was voluntary. All participants recorded on a daily basis their work and sleep hours, levels of stress and exhaustion, caffeine intake and use of sleep aids for a month (1,736 days, 1,002 work shifts). RESULTS Participants reported moderate to high levels of stress and exhaustion on 20-40% of work days; experienced sleep disruption on more than 50% of work days; struggled to remain awake on 27% of work days; and suffered extreme drowsiness or experienced a near accident while travelling home on 9% of workdays. Age, perceived sleep duration and work hours were significant predictors of caffeine intake. About 60% of participants reported using sleep aids (about 20% reported taking prescription medications and 44% of nurses and 9% of midwives reported alcohol use as a sleep aid at least once during the study). Stress and workdays were significant predictors of sedative use. Overall, 22% reported being indifferent or mildly dissatisfied with their job. CONCLUSIONS Sleep problems, high levels of stress and exhaustion and low job satisfaction are prevalent among nurses and midwives. The use of alcohol and sleeping pills as sleep aids, and the use of caffeine to help maintain alertness is also common. Nurses and midwives may use caffeine to compensate for reduced sleep, especially on workdays, and sleeping pills to cope with their daily work-related stress.OBJETIVO: Descrever sono, estresse e comportamentos compensatorios em enfermeiras e parteiras. METODOS: O estudo incluiu 41 enfermeiras 21 parteiras em hospitais australianos de 2005 a 2009. A participacao foi voluntaria. Os participantes registraram diariamente as horas de trabalho, sono, stress e niveis de exaustao, cafeina e uso de ajuda para dormir durante um mes (1.736 dias, 1.002 turnos). RESULTADOS: Os participantes relataram de moderados a elevados niveis de stress e de exaustao em 20%-40% dos dias de trabalho; experimentaram disturbios do sono em mais de 50% dos dias de trabalho; relataram esforco para permanecer acordado em 27% dos dias de trabalho; e sofreram sonolencia extrema ou acidente perto de casa em 9% dos dias de trabalho. Idade, duracao do sono percebida e jornadas foram preditores significativos da ingestao de cafeina. Aproximadamente 60% dos participantes relataram utilizar a ajuda para dormir: cerca de 20% relataram uso de medicacao prescrita e 44% das enfermeiras e 9% das parteiras consumiam alcool como auxilio para dormir pelo menos uma vez durante o estudo. Estresse e dias de trabalho foram preditores significativos do uso de sedativos. Em geral, 22% relataram ser indiferente, ou ligeiramente insatisfeito com seu trabalho. CONCLUSOES: Problemas no sono, estresse e exaustao elevados e diminuicao na satisfacao no trabalho sao prevalentes. Sao comuns o uso de alcool e de medicamentos para dormir, e consumo de cafeina para se manter alerta. Enfermeiras e parteiras parecem usar a cafeina para compensar a reducao do sono, especialmente em dias de trabalho, e usar soniferos para compensar o estresse diario.