Wahaj Anwar A Khan1, Russell Conduit2, Gerard A Kennedy3, Melinda L Jackson4. 1. Psychology Discipline, School of Health and Biomedical Sciences, RMIT University, Bundoora, Australia; Occupational Health Department, Faculty of Public Health and Health Informatics, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah, Saudi Arabia. 2. Psychology Discipline, School of Health and Biomedical Sciences, RMIT University, Bundoora, Australia. Electronic address: russell.conduit@rmit.edu.au. 3. Psychology Discipline, School of Health and Biomedical Sciences, RMIT University, Bundoora, Australia. 4. Turner Institute for Brain and Mental Health, School of Psychological Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia; Institute for Breathing and Sleep, Austin Health, Melbourne, Australia.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of sleep and mental health issues, the role of chronotype, and the relationship between these variables in Australian paramedics. DESIGN: A cross-sectional study. SETTINGS: Cross-sectional survey. MEASUREMENTS: Paramedics were invited to complete an online survey to assess stress, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, anxiety, daytime sleepiness, insomnia, sleep quality, shift-work disorder, bruxism, obstructive sleep apnea, narcolepsy, chronotype, fatigue, and well-being. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 136 paramedics responded to the survey (age, 39.1 ± 12.1 years; 45.8% men and 54.2% women; 85.4% rotating shift-workers, 7% rural shift-workers, and 7.6% fixed rosters). RESULTS: Paramedics reported significantly higher levels of depression symptoms, anxiety symptoms, fatigue, PTSD symptoms, insomnia symptoms, narcolepsy, and significantly poorer sleep quality and general well-being than norms from the general population of Australia and Western countries (all p < .05). From regression analyses, insomnia explained the greatest amount of variance in depression and anxiety scores, followed by fatigue and PTSD (adjusted R-squared for depression and anxiety models = .58 and = .44, respectively, p < .001). The majority of participants were intermediate chronotype (57%), followed by morning (32%) and evening type (11%). Evening chronotypes showed significantly higher depression scores (p < .001), anxiety (p < .05), PTSD symptoms (p < .05), poorer sleep quality (p < .05), and general well-being (p < .001) compared with morning types. CONCLUSION: Addressing sleep issues and matching chronotype to shift preference in paramedics may help to reduce depression, anxiety, and improve well-being. Crown
OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of sleep and mental health issues, the role of chronotype, and the relationship between these variables in Australian paramedics. DESIGN: A cross-sectional study. SETTINGS: Cross-sectional survey. MEASUREMENTS: Paramedics were invited to complete an online survey to assess stress, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, anxiety, daytime sleepiness, insomnia, sleep quality, shift-work disorder, bruxism, obstructive sleep apnea, narcolepsy, chronotype, fatigue, and well-being. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 136 paramedics responded to the survey (age, 39.1 ± 12.1 years; 45.8% men and 54.2% women; 85.4% rotating shift-workers, 7% rural shift-workers, and 7.6% fixed rosters). RESULTS: Paramedics reported significantly higher levels of depression symptoms, anxiety symptoms, fatigue, PTSD symptoms, insomnia symptoms, narcolepsy, and significantly poorer sleep quality and general well-being than norms from the general population of Australia and Western countries (all p < .05). From regression analyses, insomnia explained the greatest amount of variance in depression and anxiety scores, followed by fatigue and PTSD (adjusted R-squared for depression and anxiety models = .58 and = .44, respectively, p < .001). The majority of participants were intermediate chronotype (57%), followed by morning (32%) and evening type (11%). Evening chronotypes showed significantly higher depression scores (p < .001), anxiety (p < .05), PTSD symptoms (p < .05), poorer sleep quality (p < .05), and general well-being (p < .001) compared with morning types. CONCLUSION: Addressing sleep issues and matching chronotype to shift preference in paramedics may help to reduce depression, anxiety, and improve well-being. Crown
Authors: Sarah L McGuinness; Josphin Johnson; Owen Eades; Peter A Cameron; Andrew Forbes; Jane Fisher; Kelsey Grantham; Carol Hodgson; Peter Hunter; Jessica Kasza; Helen L Kelsall; Maggie Kirkman; Grant Russell; Philip L Russo; Malcolm R Sim; Kasha P Singh; Helen Skouteris; Karen L Smith; Rhonda L Stuart; Helena J Teede; James M Trauer; Andrew Udy; Sophia Zoungas; Karin Leder Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2022-04-19 Impact factor: 3.390
Authors: R Lewis; L C Roden; K Scheuermaier; F X Gomez-Olive; D E Rae; S Iacovides; A Bentley; J P Davy; C J Christie; S Zschernack; J Roche; G Lipinska Journal: Sci Rep Date: 2021-12-15 Impact factor: 4.379
Authors: Wahaj Anwar A Khan; Russell Conduit; Gerard A Kennedy; Ahmed Abdullah Alslamah; Mohammad Ahmad Alsuwayeh; Melinda L Jackson Journal: Clocks Sleep Date: 2020-06-08