Impact of COVID-19 pandemic on the sleep quality of medical professionals in Brazil

ABSTRACT

Introduction: Coronavirus pandemic began in China in 2019 (COVID-19), causing not only public health problems but also great psychological distress, especially for physicians involved in coping with the virus or those of the risk group in social isolation, and this represents a challenge for the psychological resilience in the world population. Studies showed that health professionals had psychological symptoms such as depression, anxiety, insomnia, stress, among others. Objectives: To investigate the quality of sleep and the prevalence rate of sleeping disorders among physicians during COVID-19 pandemic, and identify the psychological and social factors associated with the condition. Methods: A cross-sectional study of an online questionnaire was applied for physicians in Brazil. Among the 332 participants included, 227 were women. Sociodemographic assessment was used in the questionnaire, as well as the scale of impact on the events of modifications caused by COVID-19, assessment on sleep quality (PSQI), presence and severity of insomnia (ISI), depressive symptoms (PHQ-9), and anxiety (GAD-7). Results: Most physicians (65.6%) had changes in sleep. Poor sleep quality was reported by 73.1%, depressive symptoms were present in 75.8%, and anxiety in 73.4%. Conclusion: Our study found that more than 70% of the physicians assessed had impaired sleep quality, characterizing insomnia symptoms during COVID-19 outbreak. Related factors included an environment of isolation, concerns about COVID-19 outbreak and symptoms of anxiety and depression. Special interventions are needed to promote health professionals’ mental well-being and implement changes in this scenario.

RESUMO

Introdução: A pandemia de coronavírus iniciada na China em 2019 (COVID-19) não só causou problemas de saúde pública mas também trouxe grande sofrimento psíquico, principalmente aos médicos envolvidos no enfrentamento da doença ou àqueles do grupo de risco em isolamento social, e representa um desafio para a resiliência psicológica da população mundial. Estudos mostram que profissionais de saúde apresentaram sintomas psicológicos como depressão, ansiedade, insônia, estresse, entre outros. Objetivos: Investigar a qualidade do sono e a taxa de prevalência de transtornos do sono entre os médicos durante a pandemia do COVID-19, e identificar os fatores psicológicos e sociais associados ao quadro. Métodos: Estudo transversal com aplicação de questionário on-line a médicos do Brasil e inclusão de 332 participantes, dos quais 227 eram mulheres. Foram utilizados questionários com avaliação sociodemográfica, escala de impacto a eventos com modificações causadas pelo COVID-19, avaliação da qualidade do sono (PSQI), presença e gravidade da insônia (IGI), sintomas depressivos (PHQ-9) e ansiedade (TAG-7). Resultados: A maioria dos médicos (65,6%) apresentou alterações no sono, sendo a má qualidade do sono reportada por 73,1%. Sintomas depressivos estiveram presentes em 75,8%, e ansiedade em 73,4%. Conclusão: Nosso estudo constatou que mais de 70% dos médicos avaliados apresentavam comprometimento da qualidade do sono, caracterizando sintomas de insônia durante o surto de COVID-19. Os fatores relacionados incluíram ambiente de isolamento, preocupações com o surto de COVID-19 e sintomas de ansiedade e depressão. Intervenções especiais são necessárias para promover o bem-estar mental dos profissionais de saúde e implementar mudanças nesse cenário.

Keywords:

COVID-19 - Insomnia - Depression - Anxiety

Palavras-chave:

COVID-19 - Insônia - Depressão - Ansiedade

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