Strategies that nurses working irregular night shifts use to improve sleep quality: A qualitative study among good and poor sleepers.

AIMS: To assess the sleep strategies that nurses working irregular night shifts use to improve their sleep quality, and to compare the strategies of good and poor sleepers to determine whether the differences between the two groups could provide insights into possible effective strategies. DESIGN: A qualitative descriptive study. METHODS: The study was conducted from September 2019 to January 2020. Thirty-four nurses working irregular night shifts participated; 17 were classified as good sleepers and 17 as poor sleepers based on the Sleep-Wake Experience List, a validated self-report instrument that measures one's sleep quality. Interviews were conducted using open questions to explore strategies around the night-shift set. The interviews were analysed using thematic analysis. FINDINGS: Both groups described similar and different strategies that help them work and sleep well during and after night shifts. However, good sleepers mentioned a greater number of strategies and seemed to have thought about them more than poor sleepers. The most common strategies were having a clear structure, being organized-especially regarding sleeping time-maintaining a daily routine and adjusting their sleep environment. CONCLUSION: Healthcare institutions should consider offering education and training programs aimed at empowering nurses who work irregular night shifts. These programs should provide nurses with various sleep strategies to enhance their sleep quality and overall well-being. IMPLICATIONS FOR THE PROFESSION: Nurses working irregular night shifts can possibly enhance their sleep quality by making personalized plans, for example, including a clear day structure, or an optimized sleep environment. IMPACT: The study focused on how nurses working night shifts could possibly enhance their sleep quality. The findings highlight the importance of providing nurses with diverse sleep strategies to improve sleep quality, helping them to identify what works best for them and consistently apply these strategies. REPORTING METHOD: The Consolidated Criteria for Reporting Qualitative Research guidelines were followed. PATIENT OR PUBLIC CONTRIBUTION: Nurses working irregular night shifts at Maastricht University Medical Center in Maastricht, the Netherlands, who agreed to participate in the study, engaged in a discussion to assess the relevance of sleep quality to their work. They were also encouraged to share their perspectives during the interviews.

Sleep quality and the need for recovery among nurses working irregular shifts: A cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Shift work affects the mental and physical health of nurses, yet the effect of working irregular shifts on sleep and its association with the need for recovery is under-explored. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the sleep quality of nurses working irregular shifts, including night shifts, and to determine whether sleep quality is associated with the need for recovery. METHODS: This cross-sectional study included 405 nurses working irregular shifts. Data were collected using an online questionnaire that included sociodemographic characteristics, the Sleep-Wake Experience List, sleep problems, sleep duration, and the Need for Recovery scale. Data analyses included descriptive statistics, chi-square tests, t-tests, logistic and multiple linear regressions. RESULTS: Nurses who worked irregular shifts had poor sleep quality. Those who also worked night shifts, had significantly poorer sleep quality and experienced more difficulties in daily functioning than those who did not work night shifts. Sleep quality was significantly associated with the need for recovery and this remained so after controlling for confounding variables (ß= .554, p = .001). CONCLUSION: The findings indicate that in nurses who work irregular shifts, the sleep quality is low. In this group, the sleep quality in nurses who work night shifts is lower than in nurses who do not work night shifts. Furthermore, better sleep quality was associated with lower need for recovery. These findings suggest that improving sleep quality in nurses working irregular shifts may lower their need for recovery, which may improve health, and reduce burnout and sickness absence.

Sleep Health Promotion Interventions and Their Effectiveness: An Umbrella Review.

Sleep is receiving increasing attention in public health. The aim of this umbrella review is to determine what non-pharmacological sleep health interventions have been evaluated among healthy populations, by examining target groups, settings, and effectiveness in improving sleep quality and duration. Comprehensive searches were conducted in five electronic databases (January 1975-February 2019), yielding 6505 records. Thirty-five articles were selected meeting the following eligibility criteria: (1) systematic reviews or meta-analyses of (2) sleep health interventions in (3) primarily healthy populations. Two reviewers independently screened for inclusion, extracted the data, and assessed the review quality. This umbrella review was registered with PROSPERO (CRD42019126291). Eleven intervention types were defined, and their effectiveness discussed. Substantial evidence demonstrated the effectiveness of later school start times, behavior change methods, and mind-body exercise. Other intervention types, including sleep education or relaxation techniques, demonstrated some promising impacts on sleep, but with less consistent evidence. Results were limited by high heterogeneity between studies, mixed results, and variable review quality. Nevertheless, this umbrella review is a first step towards understanding the current state of sleep health promotion and gives an overview of interventions across the lifespan.