Journals A-Z
All Subjects
Free Journals
sciepub.com
American Journal of Medical Sciences and Medicine
ISSN (Print): 2327-6681 ISSN (Online): 2327-6657 Website: https://www.sciepub.com/journal/ajmsm Editor-in-chief: Apply for this position
Open Access
Journal Browser
Go
Issue 1, Volume 11
Article Metrics
  • 5159
    Views
  • 5648
    Saves
  • 0
    Citations
  • 0
    Likes
Export Article
American Journal of Medical Sciences and Medicine. 2023, 11(1), 6-29
DOI: 10.12691/ajmsm-11-1-2
Open AccessArticle

Sleep Patterns of Medical Practitioners in Public Hospitals in Pretoria and Tembisa

Dr. Prince Chima Ozoemena1 and Dr. Frank Peters1

1Faculty of Health Sciences University of Pretoria, South Africa

Pub. Date: April 17, 2023
View Full Text Full Text PDF (3557 KB) Full Text ePUB(2146 KB)

Cite this paper:
Dr. Prince Chima Ozoemena and Dr. Frank Peters. Sleep Patterns of Medical Practitioners in Public Hospitals in Pretoria and Tembisa. American Journal of Medical Sciences and Medicine. 2023; 11(1):6-29. doi: 10.12691/ajmsm-11-1-2

Abstract

The objective of this study was to explore the sleep problems of medical practitioners working in public hospitals. The cross-sectional study was conducted from August to October 2015 on Medical practitioners in four public hospitals in Pretoria and Tembisa. The representative sample was 300 doctors selected from these hospitals. Their sleep patterns were evaluated using Questionnaires that included Socio-demographic data and the Pittsburg Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). STATA 14 was used for analysis of data collected. The sample included 117 (39.3%) medical officers, 87 (28.7%), medical interns, 82 (27.3%) medical registrars and 14 (4.7%) community service doctors. It provided some evidence of significant distortion in the sleep patterns of medical practitioners as shown by high prevalence of sleep deprivation, daytime dysfunction, self-use of medications to sleep and reduced sleep quality. Of the 300 participants, 254 (84.7%) where sleep deprived and 161 (53.7%) admitted to have used medications to sleep in the past month. The researcher concluded that the quality of sleep or wakefulness of an individual goes a long way to determine his or her cognitive output. Sleep deprivation has the potential of compromising a doctor’s performance and patient care. There is impairment in the sleep patterns of medical practitioners. It also shows the need for improvement, in order to maintain their well-being and performance.

Keywords:
sleep patterns medical practitioners hospitals Pretoria South Africa

Creative CommonsThis work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. To view a copy of this license, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

References:

[1]  Weinger, M.B., Ancoli-Israil, S. Sleep deprivation and clinical performance. JAMA. 2002; 287: 955-7.
 
[2]  Samkoff, J.S., Jacques, C.H. A review of studies concerning effects of sleep deprivation and fatigue on residents’ performance Acad Med. 1991; 66: 687-93.
 
[3]  Schaefer, E.W., Williams, M.V., Zee, P.C. Sleep and circadian misalignment for the Hospitalist: a review. J Hosp Med. 2012 Jul-Aug; 7(6): 489-96.
 
[4]  Wilhelm, B.J., Widmann, A. Objective and quantitative analysis of daytime sleepiness in physicians after night calls. Int J Psychophysiology. 2009 Jun; 72(3): 307-13.
 
[5]  Concise Oxford English Dictionary. 12thed. Oxford: Oxford University Press; 2011. Sleep; p.1356.
 
[6]  Zee, P.C. The normal duration of daily sleep for different age groups. Medscape Fam Med. 2005; 7(2). [Cited 2015 Sep]. Available from: http://www.medscape.org/viewarticle/511229.
 
[7]  Edinger, J.D., Bonnet, M.H., Bootzin, R.R. et al. Derivation of research diagnostic criteria for insomnia: report of an American Academy of Sleep Medicine work Group. Sleep. 2004; 27: 1567-96.
 
[8]  Hyyppa, M.T., Kronholm, E. Quality of Sleep and Chronic illnesses. J Clin Epidemiologic 1989; 42:633-8.
 
[9]  Buysse, D.J., Reynolds, C.F. 3rd, Monk, T.H., Berman, S.R., Kupfer, D.J. The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index: a new instrument for psychiatric practice and research. Psychiatry Res. 1989 May; 28(2): 193-213.
 
[10]  Akerstedt, T., Hume, K., Minors, D., Waterhouse, J. The subjective meaning of good sleep, an intra-individual approach using the Karolinska Sleep Diary. Percept Mot Skills. 1994; 79: 287-96.
 
[11]  Marcus, C.L., Loughlin, G.M. Effect of sleep deprivation on driving safety of house staff. Sleep. 1996; 19: 763-6.
 
[12]  Steele, M.T., Ma, O.J., Watson, W.A., Thomas, H.A. Jr., Muelleman, R.L. The occupational risk of motor vehicle collisions for emergency medicine residents. Acad Emerg Med. 1999 Oct; 6(10): 1050-3.
 
[13]  Mustahsan, S.M., Ali, S.M., Khalid, F., Ali, A.A., Ahmed, H., Hashmi, S.A., et al. Sleep deprivation and its consequences on house officers and post graduate trainees. JPak Med Ass. 2013 Apr; 63(4): 540-3.
 
[14]  Papp, K.K., Stoller, E.P., Sage, P., Aikens, J.E., Owens, J., Avidan, A., et al. The effects of sleep loss and fatigue on resident-physicians: a multi-institutional, mixed-method study. Acad Med. 2004; 79(5): 394-406.
 
[15]  Landrigan, C.P., Fahrenkopf, A.M., Lewin, D., Sharek, P.J., Barger, L.K. Eisner, M., et al. Effects of the accreditation council for graduate medical education duty hour limits on sleep, work hours and safety. Pediatrics. 2008 Aug; 122(2): 250-8.
 
[16]  Lockley, S.W., Cronin, J.W., Evans, E.E., Cade, B.E., Lee, C.J., Landrigan, C.P., et al. Effects of reducing interns’ weekly work hours on sleep and attentional failures. N Engl J Med. 2004 Oct; 351: 1829-37.
 
[17]  Pilcher, J.J. and Huffcut, A.I.Effects of sleep deprivation on performance: a meta-analysis. Sleep. 1996; 19: 318-26.
 
[18]  Seggie, J. The ‘boom’ in medical malpractice claims-patients could be losers. S Afr Med J. 2013; 103(7): 433.
 
[19]  Pepper, M.S., Slabbert, M.N. Is South Africa on the verge of a medical malpractice litigation storm? S Afr J Bioeth Law. 2011; 4(1): 29-35.
 
[20]  Bertisch, S.M., Herzig, S.J., Winkelman, J.W., Buettner, C. National use of prescription medications for insomnia: NHANES 1999-2010. Sleep.2014; 37(2): 343-9.
 
[21]  Bixler, E.O., Kales, A., Soldatos, C.R., Kales, J.D., Healey, S. Prevalence of sleep disorders in the Los Angeles metropolitan area. Am J Psychiatry. 1979; 136: 1257-62.
 
[22]  Klink, M., Quan, S.F. Prevalence of reported sleep disorders in a general population and their relationship to obstructive airways diseases. Chest, 1987; 91: 540-6.
 
[23]  Ohayon, M.M., Smirne, S. Prevalence and consequences of insomnia disorders in the general in the general population of Italy. Sleep Med. 2002; 3: 115-20.
 
[24]  Newman, A.B., Enright, P.L., Manolo, T.A., Haponik, E.F., Wahl, P.W. Sleep disturbance, psychosocial correlates, and cardiovascular disease in 5201 older adults: the cardiovascular Health Study. J Am Geriar Soc.1997; 45: 1-7.
 
[25]  Ohayon, M.M., Zulley, J. Correlates of global sleep dissatisfaction in the German population. Sleep 2001; 24: 780-7.
 
[26]  Mitchell, E.S., Woods, N.F. Symptom experiences of midlife women: observations of Seattle Midlife Women’s Health Study. Maruritas. 1996; 25: 1-10.
 
[27]  Ancoli-Israel, S., Roth, T. Characteristics of Insomnia in the United States: results of the 1991 National Sleep Foundation Survey. 1. Sleep 1999; 22(2): 347-53.
 
[28]  Olson, L.G., King, M.T., Hensly, M.J., Saunders, N.A. A community study of snoring and sleep-disordered breathing-prevalence. Am J Respir Crit Care Med 1995; 152(2): 711-16.
 
[29]  Ford, D.E., Kamerow, D.B. Epidemiologic study of sleep disturbance and psychiatric disorders: An opportunity for prevention? JAMA. 1989; 262: 1479-84.
 
[30]  Mellinger, G.D., Balter, M.B., Uhlenhuth, E.H. Insomnia and its treatment: prevalence and correlates. Arch Gen Psychiatry. 1985; 42: 225-32.
 
[31]  Lindberg, E., Janson, C. et al. Sleep disturbance in a young adult population: can gender differences be explained by differences in psychological status? Sleep.1997; 20(6): 381-87.
 
[32]  Blazer, D.G., Hays, J.C., Foley, D.J. Sleep complains in older adults; A racial comparison. J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med. 1995; 50: 280-4.
 
[33]  Ohayon, M.M., Caulet, M., Guilleminault, C. Complaints about nocturnal sleep: how a general population perceives its sleep, and how this relates to the complaint of insomnia. Sleep. 1997; 20: 715-23.
 
[34]  Kim, K., Uchiyama, M., Okawa, M., Liu, X., Ogihara, R. An epidemiological study of insomnia among the Japanese general population. Sleep. 2000; 23: 41-7.
 
[35]  Weissman, M.M., Bland, R.C. et al. Cross-national epidemiology of major depression and bipolar disorder. JAMA. 1996; 276: 293-9.
 
[36]  Ohayon, M.M., Caulet, M., Lemoine, P. Comorbidity of mental and insomnia disorders in the general population. Compr Psychiatry. 1998; 39: 185-97.
 
[37]  Foley, D.J., Monjan, A., Simonsick, E.M., Wallace, R.B., Blazer, D.G. Incidence and remission of insomnia among elderly adults: an epidemiological study of 6,800 persons over three years. Sleep. 1999; 22(2): 366-72.
 
[38]  Hagen K.B., Kvien, T.K., Bjorndal, A. Musculoskeletal pain and quality of life in patients with non-inflammatory joint pain compared to rheumatoid arthritis: a population survey. J Rheumatol. 1997; 24: 1703-9.
 
[39]  Ohayon, M.M., Zulley, J. Correlates of global sleep dissatisfaction in the German population. Sleep. 2001; 24: 780-7.
 
[40]  Maggi, S., Langlois, J.A. et al. Sleep complaints in community-dwelling older persons: prevalence, associated factors, and reported causes. J Am Geriatr Soc 1998; 46: 161-8.
 
[41]  Phillips, B.A., Danner, F.J. Cigarette smoking and sleep disturbance. Arch Intern Med. 1995; 155: 734-7.
 
[42]  Roehrs, T., Hollebeek, E., Drake, C., Roth, T. Substance use for insomnia in Metropolitan Detriot. J Psychosom Res. 2002; 53: 571-6.
 
[43]  Jaime, M.M. Disturbance of sleep and wakefulness associated with the use of antihypertensive agents. Life Sciences 1987; 41(17): 1979-88.
 
[44]  Nugget, A.M., Gleadhill, I. et al. Sleep complaints and risk factors for excessive daytime sleepiness in adult males in Northern Ireland. J Sleep Res. 2001; 10:69- 74.
 
[45]  Phillips, B., Young, T. et al. Epidemiology of restless legs symptoms in adults. Arch Intern Med. 2000; 160: 2137-41.
 
[46]  Caples, S.M., Gami, A.S., Somers, V.K. Obstructive sleep apnea. An intern Med 2005; 143(3): 187-97.
 
[47]  Ohayon, M.M., Zulley, J., Guilleminault, C., Smirne S. Prevalence and pathological associations of sleep paralysis in the general population. Neurology. 1999; 52: 1194-1200.
 
[48]  Billiard, M. Diagnosis of narcolepsy and idiopathic hypersomnia. An update based on the international classification of sleep disorders. Sleep Med Rev. 2007; 11(5): 377-88.
 
[49]  Nojomi, M., Ghalhe, B., Kaffashi, S. Sleep pattern in medical students and residents. Arch Iran Med. 2009; 12(6): 542-9.
 
[50]  Johns, M.W. A new method for measuring daytime sleepiness: the Epworth Sleepiness scale. Sleep. 1991; 14(6): 540-5.
 
[51]  Janet, B.W., Williams, D.S.W. A structured interview guide for the Hamilton Depression Scale. Arch Gen Psychiatry. 1988; 45(8): 742-7.
 
[52]  Van de Water, A.T., Holmes, A., Hurley, D.A. Objective measurements of sleep for non-laboratory settings as alternatives to polysomnography- a systemic review. J Sleep Res. 2011 Mar; 20 (1 Pt. 2): 183-200.
 
[53]  Grandner, M.A., Kripke, D.F. Criterion validity of the Pittsburg Sleep Quality Index. Sleep and Biological Rhythms. 2006; 4(2): 129-39.
 
[54]  Carpenter, J.S., Andrykowski, M.A. Psychosometric evaluation of the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index. J Psychometr Res. 1998; 45(1): 5-13.
 
[55]  Backhaus, J., Junghanns, K., Broocks, A., Riemann, D., Hohagen, F. Test-retest reliability and validity of the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index in primary insomnia. J Psychometr Res. 2002; 53: 737-40.
 
[56]  Olutayo, O.A., Abiodun, O. et al. Validity of the Pittsburg Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) among Nigerian University students. Sleep Medicine. 2007; 8: 266-70.
 
[57]  Chien, P-L., Su, H-F., Hsieh, P-C., Siao, R-Y., Ling, P.Y., Jou, H-J. Sleep quality among female hospital staff nurses. Sleep Dis. 2013; [cited 2015 Sep]. Available from: http://www.hindawi.com/journals/sd/2013/283490/.
 
[58]  Doi, Y., Minowa, M., Okawa, M., Uchiyama, M. Prevalence of sleep disturbance and hypnotic medication use in relation to socio demographic factors in the general Japanese adult population. J Epidemiol. 2000; 10: 79-86.
 
[59]  Kanita, Y., Ohida, T. Association of current work and sleep situations with excessive daytime sleepiness and medical incidents among Japanese physicians. J Clin Sleep. 2011 Oct 15; 7(5): 512-22.
 
[60]  Nuckols, T.K., Bhattacharya, J., Wolman, D.M., Ulmer, C., Escarce, J.J. Cost implications of reduced work hours and workloads for resident physicians. New Engl J Med. 2009; 360: 2202-15.
 
[61]  Landrigan, C.P., Rothschild, J.M., Cronin, J.W., Kaushal, R., Burdick, E., Katz, J.T., et al. Effects of reducing interns work hours on serious medical errors in intensive care units. N Engl J Med. 2004; 351: 1838-48.
 
Manuscript template