Peer-reviewed article
722 Sleep Loss in Healthcare Workers During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Stewart N, Koza A, Dhaon S, Shoushtari C, Martinez M et al. ·
Summary
Written by AI, not yet AICS's view · claude-haiku-4-5-20251001This peer-reviewed study examined sleep disturbances among healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic using online surveys distributed via social media. Nearly 90% of 906 healthcare worker respondents reported poor sleep quality, with over one-third experiencing moderate-to-severe insomnia. Sleep disruptions were attributed to work demands, pandemic stress, family responsibilities, and personal health concerns. The study does not address children's well-being.
Key points
Limitations
This study focuses on healthcare worker adults, not children, and therefore falls outside the scope of child well-being research.
Abstract
Abstract Introduction During the pandemic, healthcare workers have shared their stresses on social media, including regarding sleep disturbances. However, an assessment of sleep using validated measures among healthcare workers on social media is lacking. Methods A restricted, self-selection survey was distributed on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for 16 days targeting healthcare workers who were clinically active during COVID-19. In addition to demographics and career information, participants completed the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and Insomnia Severity Index. Poor sleep quality was defined as PSQI > 5. Moderate-to-severe insomnia was defined as an ISI > 14. Multivariate logistic regression tested the association between demographics and career characteristics and sleep outcomes. Results Of the 983 who clicked our link, 906 completed the survey. Participants were mostly white (70%), female (75%), physicians (64%). Mean sleep duration was 6.1 (SD1.2) hours. Nearly 90% experienced poor sleep (PSQI). One third reported moderate or severe insomnia. Many (60%) reported sleep disruptions due to device usage or due to bad dreams at least once per week (45%). In multivariable regression, non-physicians (OR 3.5, CI: 2.5, 5.0), Hispanic ethnicity (OR 2.2; CI: 1.44, 3.45), being single (1.5, CI: 1.03, 2.21), and youngest age group (18–24) (OR 9.9; CI: 1.44, 68.09) had increased odds of insomnia. In open-ended comments, sleep disruptions mapped to 5 categories: (1) Work demands (“The volume of calls and messages from my patient and caregiver population is through the roof”); (2) Pandemic related (“I never had sleep issues prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. Suddenly I had issues with sleep initiation.”; (3) Children and family (“COVID plus home stress plus stress over my kids, my job, my marriage.”); (4) Personal health (“Insomnia predating COVID, but worsened with COVID.”); (5) Responses to the pandemic (“I worry about how COVID is being managed by the President...This does keep me awake at night.”). Conclusion During the COVID-19 pandemic, 90% of healthcare workers surveyed on social media reported poor sleep, with over one-third of participants reporting moderate-severe insomnia. Online sleep interventions for healthcare workers are urgently needed. Support (if any):