Working conditions are associated with the occurrence of sleepiness of nursing professionals: a case-control study

To identify the factors associated with the occurrence of sleepiness among nursing professionals.

A case-control study nested in a cross-sectional one, conducted with 364 controls and 121 cases. Data on demographic and occupational characteristics were collected, as well as about lifestyle, physical and psychosocial work environment and somnolence. A multiple logistic regression analysis was performed.

The independent factors associated with the presence of sleepiness were as follows: imbalance between efforts and rewards (ORa=3.81; p<0.001), high overcommitment (ORa=3.20; p<0.001), workload equal to or greater than 45 hours a week (ORa=2.30; p=0.001), situations that can generate pain/injury with moderate or high exposure (ORa=1.85; p=0.037), and night work (ORa=1.71; p=0.038). The model was adjusted by gender and age group.

Individual and historical-occupational characteristics and, mainly, those related to the physical and psychosocial work environment, were associated with the occurrence of sleepiness. Public and institutional preventive policies must include improvements in the conditions of the physical and psychosocial work environment, as well as strengthening of the individual resources.