摘要：OBJECTIVE:To describe sleep, stress and compensatory behaviors in nursesand midwives.METHODS:The study included 41 midwives and 21 nurses working inAustralian hospitals between 2005 and 2009. Participation was voluntary. Allparticipants recorded on a daily basis their work and sleep hours, levels ofstress and exhaustion, caffeine intake and use of sleep aids for a month (1,736days, 1,002 work shifts).RESULTS:Participants reported moderate to high levels of stress andexhaustion on 20-40% of work days; experienced sleep disruption on morethan 50% of work days; struggled to remain awake on 27% of work days; andsuffered extreme drowsiness or experienced a near accident while travellinghome on 9% of workdays. Age, perceived sleep duration and work hours weresignificant predictors of caffeine intake. About 60% of participants reportedusing sleep aids (about 20% reported taking prescription medications and44% of nurses and 9% of midwives reported alcohol use as a sleep aid atleast once during the study). Stress and workdays were significant predictorsof sedative use. Overall, 22% reported being indifferent or mildly dissatisfiedwith their job.CONCLUSIONS:Sleep problems, high levels of stress and exhaustionand low job satisfaction are prevalent among nurses and midwives. The useof alcohol and sleeping pills as sleep aids, and the use of caffeine to helpmaintain alertness is also common. Nurses and midwives may use caffeine tocompensate for reduced sleep, especially on workdays, and sleeping pills tocope with their daily work-related stress.
其他摘要：OBJECTIVE:To describe sleep, stress and compensatory behaviors in nursesand midwives.METHODS:The study included 41 midwives and 21 nurses working inAustralian hospitals between 2005 and 2009. Participation was voluntary. Allparticipants recorded on a daily basis their work and sleep hours, levels ofstress and exhaustion, caffeine intake and use of sleep aids for a month (1,736days, 1,002 work shifts).RESULTS:Participants reported moderate to high levels of stress andexhaustion on 20-40% of work days; experienced sleep disruption on morethan 50% of work days; struggled to remain awake on 27% of work days; andsuffered extreme drowsiness or experienced a near accident while travellinghome on 9% of workdays. Age, perceived sleep duration and work hours weresignificant predictors of caffeine intake. About 60% of participants reportedusing sleep aids (about 20% reported taking prescription medications and44% of nurses and 9% of midwives reported alcohol use as a sleep aid atleast once during the study). Stress and workdays were significant predictorsof sedative use. Overall, 22% reported being indifferent or mildly dissatisfiedwith their job.CONCLUSIONS:Sleep problems, high levels of stress and exhaustionand low job satisfaction are prevalent among nurses and midwives. The useof alcohol and sleeping pills as sleep aids, and the use of caffeine to helpmaintain alertness is also common. Nurses and midwives may use caffeine tocompensate for reduced sleep, especially on workdays, and sleeping pills tocope with their daily work-related stress.
