Sleep medication and melatonin use among Norwegian nurses – A cross-sectional study

Abstract

Aim: To estimate the prevalence of sleep medication and melatonin use among nurses and to assess if factors related to work, sleep or mental health, were associated with such use. Design: A cross-sectional study. Methods: A questionnaire survey including 2,798 Norwegian nurses. Associations were estimated using a modified Poisson regression model. Results: In total, 7.5%, 4.6% and 2.0% of the nurses included in the present study reported prescribed sleep medication, over-the-counter sleep medication or melatonin use in the last year, respectively. Short sleep duration, sleep problems and psychological conditions were strongly associated with both prescribed and over-the-counter sleep medication use. Nurses who worked more than 60 night shifts in the last year were at increased risk of sleep medication use.