Analysis of mental health and sleep problems among nursing and midwifery staff during the COVID-19 pandemic

ABSTRACT

Introduction: Nursing and midwifery staff members are at high risk of mental disorders. Depression, anxiety, and insomnia are commonly reported symptoms among healthcare professionals during the COVID-19 pandemic. Chronic insomnia leads to lower quality of life, worse professional performance and deterioration of cognitive function. Moreover, it increases the risk of metabolic and cardiovascular diseases. Material and methods: The study included 235 nurses (n =133) and midwives (n =102). The diagnostic methods included a descriptive and demographic questionnaire, The General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-28), The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), and The Insomnia Severity Index (ISI). The study was conducted using an online survey. Results: There are no statistically significant intergroup differences in terms of mental state, sleep quality and the insomnia level in the groups of nurses and midwives. 9% of subjects used psychological support and revealed lower assessment of their mental health, poorer sleep quality and the higher insomnia rate. The stable mental health of nurses and midwives positively correlated with the sleep quality and negatively with the insomnia level. 63% of study participants assessed their sleep quality as low. The symptoms of clinical insomnia were present in 35% of subjects. Conclusions: Insomnia is a serious health problem for nursing and midwifery staff during the COVID-19 pandemic. The implementation of preventive programmes focused on medical workers' mental health should be a priority in prevention of long-term consequences of sleep problems and insomnia.