The Quality of Sleep and Effects on General Mental Health of Nurses Who Works in a State Hospital

Abstract

Objectives: To determine the sleep quality of nurses working in a state hospital. and the relationship between the sleep quality and mental disorders.

Methods: This study was made as a descriptive study in January-February of 2011. The research consisted of nurses working in the state hospital in Ordu and a total of 105 research samples. The research data were collected by using a "Personal Information Form, the Pittsburg Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), and a General Health Questionnaire (GHQ)". Chi-square test, t-test, and correlation tests were used in statistical analysis.

Results: According to PSQI, poor sleep quality of nurses was 70.9%. Poor sleep quality was determined to be a mental health problem in 52.9% of the nurses according to the GHQ. There was a positive and moderately significant relationship between the mental health status and quality of sleep (r=0.524, p<0.001). A positive significant correlation for sleep quality (PSQI) was found with education level (r=0.211, p<0.05), working years (r=0.458, p<0.01), feeling tired after shift-work (r=0.467, p<0.01), and the number of patients per nurse (r=0.211, p<0.01). A positive significant weak correlation for the general health status (GHQ) was found with working hours (r=0.393, p<0.01), reversal of order of social life (r=0.302, p<0.01), the disturbing marriage scheme (r=0.225, p<0.01), and disturbing children's care (r=0.255, p<0.01).

Conclusion: The majority of nurses were found to have poor quality of sleep. Increases in the nurses' sleep quality and mental health status was found to recover with management and awareness. A relationship was found between the sleep quality and the level of education, working years, the number of patients per nurse, weekly working hours.