Factors affecting mental status and effectsof shift work system in healthcare workers

Özet

Objectives: Shift work system causes many physical and mental health problems. This study aimed to investigate the effects of shift work on sleep quality, mental status, and quality of life of healthcare personnel. It also aimed to deter-mine the population at risk for depression and anxiety disorders by assessing differences among the occupational groups.Methods: This study was carried out with 219 healthcare personnel at Gazi University Hospital. Employees were clas-sified according to their more recent working schedule (shift, non-shift) and occupational groups (doctor, nurse, and other). Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI), Pittsburg Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), Morning-ness-Eveningness Questionnaire (MEQ), Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), and Professional Quality of Life Scale (ProQOL) were administered to the employees.Results: The BDI (p<0.000), BAI (p<0.001), PSS stress perception subscale (p=0.032), PSQI (p<0.001), and ProQOL burn-out subscale (p<0.001) scores were significantly higher in shift personnel than non-shift personnel. When the partici-pants were analyzed according to occupational groups, BAI scale scores were significantly higher in nurses (p=0.001) than doctors or others, whereas stress perception and burnout were significantly higher in physicians (p=0.003; p=0.005, respectively). There was no significant difference between the occupational groups in terms of BDI and occu-pational satisfaction (p=0.101; p=0.778, respectively). In the regression analysis, the most important predictor of the BDI and BAI score was working 41 hours or more. The most important predictor of the PSQI score was shift work.Conclusion: According to these results, especially nurses and doctors working in shifts are at serious risk for depres-sion, anxiety, and sleep disorders. Employees’ awareness should be increased regarding the associated risk of smoking, which is a risk factor. Health care workers should be trained in stress management and sleep hygiene to prevent the occurrence of mental illnesses.