The prevalence and associated factors of short sleep duration among nurses in tertiary public hospitals in China: Findings from a national survey

Abstract

Background: Sleep is an essential component of health and well-being. Short sleep duration may negatively affect nurses’ health and patients’ safety. Objective: To investigate the sleep duration and subjective satisfaction with sleep duration among nurses in tertiary public hospitals in China and to explore the associated factors. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted between December 18 and 31, 2017 in 136 major public hospitals from 31 provinces in mainland China. An online anonymous questionnaire was delivered through WeChat. Totally 27,575 nurses completed the survey. Results: The response rate was 95.46%. The mean reported total sleep duration was 6.67 ±0.97 hours per day. About 46.87% (n=12,924) reported having short sleep duration (SSD, less than 7 hours per day), and 27.63% (n=7618) were not satisfied with their sleep duration. In the SSD group, 45.67% (n=5902) were dissatisfied with their sleep duration. SSD was significantly associated with sociodemographic factors, including an older age, having more than one child, being divorced or separated, and job-related factors, including longer working hours, more night shifts and heavy workload. Conclusion: Nearly half of the nurses in the public hospitals in China reported sleeping less than 7 hours, and more than one quarter were dissatisfied with their sleep duration. Interventions are needed to improve Chinese nurses’ sleep, including reducing working hours, night shifts or workload.