Relationship Between Shift Intensity and Insomnia Among Hospital Nurses in Korea: A Cross-sectional Study

Feb 23, 2021Journal of preventive medicine and public health = Yebang Uihakhoe chi

How Workload and Shift Length Relate to Insomnia in Korean Hospital Nurses

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Abstract

Nurses who experienced 3 or more consecutive night shifts had an odds ratio of 2.33 for insomnia.

Insomnia was defined as having a Korean Insomnia Severity Index score of ≥8.
Younger age was associated with a higher likelihood of insomnia among the nurses.
Those with insomnia reported working more hours compared to those without insomnia.
Experiencing 3 or more short recovery periods after shifts was linked to increased odds of insomnia (odds ratio 2.01).
The findings indicate a potential relationship between shift intensity and insomnia among hospital nurses.

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OBJECTIVES: This study explored the relationship between shift intensity and insomnia among hospital nurses.

METHODS: The participants were 386 female hospital nurses who underwent a special health examination for night workers in 2015. The Korean Insomnia Severity Index (ISI), indices of shift work intensity, and other covariates such as amount of exercise, level of alcohol consumption, employment duration, and hours worked were extracted from the health examination data. The indices for shift intensity were (1) number of 3 consecutive night shifts and (2) number of short recovery periods after a previous shift, both assessed over the prior 3 months. Multiple logistic regression analysis adjusted for the aforementioned covariates was performed to evaluate the association of shift intensity with insomnia, defined as an ISI score of ≥8.

RESULTS: The nurses with insomnia tended to be younger (p=0.029), to have worked 3 consecutive night shifts more frequently (p<0.001), to have experienced a greater number of short recovery periods after the previous shift (p=0.021), and to have worked for more hours (p=0.006) than the nurses without insomnia. Among the other variables, no statistically significant differences between groups were observed. Experiences of 3 or more consecutive night shifts (odds ratio [OR], 2.33; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.29 to 4.20) and 3 or more short recovery periods (OR, 2.01; 95% CI, 1.08 to 3.73) were associated with increased odds of insomnia.

CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that decreasing the shift intensity may reduce insomnia among hospital nurses working rotating shifts.

Key numbers

2.33

Increased Odds of Insomnia (3+ Night Shifts)

Odds ratio for insomnia symptoms with 3 or more consecutive night shifts.

2.01

Increased Odds of Insomnia (3+ Short Recovery Periods)

Odds ratio for insomnia symptoms with 3 or more short recovery periods.

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Relationship Between Shift Intensity and Insomnia Among Hospital Nurses in Korea: A Cross-sectional Study

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