Many physicians know the feelings of burnout all too well, and a recent report in Becker’s Hospital Review details results of a new study titled “Association of Sleep Disorders With Physician Burnout” published in the JAMA Network last month which demonstrates how it only gets worse with sleep disorders.
” Specifically, physicians with positive sleep disorder screening results were more likely to report burnout and low levels of professional fulfillment. “Researchers developed a sleep health and wellness program offered to hospital groups between May 2018-19,” writes Erica Carbajal. “After a series of 40-minute presentations, participants were screened for sleep disorders including sleep apnea, insomnia, restless legs syndrome and shift work disorder. Burnout and professional fulfillment were also assessed. The sleep health and wellness program had 1,436 participants.”
Here are three key findings as summarized by Becker’s:
1. Physicians with a sleep disorder were four times as likely to report occupational burnout.
2. Of the 1,047 participants who completed the sleep disorder screening, about 29 percent had at least one sleep disorder, with insomnia being the most common. About 92 percent of positive sleep disorder findings were previously undiagnosed or untreated.
3. Researchers found 29 percent of the 1,074 who completed screening for burnout had a positive result. Of the 1,031 employees who filled out the professional fulfillment index, 49 percent reported reduced professional fulfillment.
“OSA is associated with various negative health consequences including increased risk of heart disease, hypertension and daytime sleepiness causing road accidents,” concludes Carbajal. “The economic burden of OSA is on the rise as almost 1 billion people worldwide are estimated to have the disorder.”
Source: Becker Hospital Review
