Stress, Anxiety and Sleep Disorder among Nurses: A Cross-Sectional Study of Rotation vs Fixed Shift Workers

Aims: To assess the prevalence of stress, anxiety and sleep disorder among nurses on rotation shift work and those on fixed shift work system.

Design: This study was a cross-sectional study.

Setting: This study was conducted at the Tamale West Hospital in the Tamale metropolis of Ghana, from January to April 2017.

Methods: Two hundred and forty-three (243) nurses, consisting of 20 Enrolled Nurses (E/N), 131 Registered Nurses, 62 Nursing Officers (N/O) and 30 Community Health Nurses were recruited for this study. Data were collected through self-administered questionnaires containing socio-demographic data, stress assessment using the Perceived Stress Scale, anxiety assessment using the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K10) and sleep disorder assessment.

Results: Sixty-three (63) % of the nurses were found to have anxiety while 83% were found to be stressed. The prevalence of stress was higher among shift workers than fixed workers. Severe stress was higher in rotation shift workers. 20.8% of nurses on shift work had problems sleeping. Duration of sleep was higher among shift workers 6.464±1.195 than fixed workers 6.06±1.391. Nurses who are younger and have not been working for long periods have significantly higher anxiety symptoms than the older nurses. Also, nurses who do not engage in exercise have a significantly higher prevalence of anxiety than those who exercise.

Conclusion: Shift workers showed a higher prevalence of stress as compared to fixed workers, and female nurses were more stressed than the male nurses. Shift workers were having more sleep than attached workers. Anxiety was affected exercise and alcohol as well as the duration of service.