Sleep Quality Among Patients and Healthcare Providers in the Primary Healthcare Setting

Background/Objectives: As adults spend about 30% of each day asleep, having a sleep disorder can negatively affect their functioning. The study objective was to determine the factors that influence sleep quality among patients and healthcare providers in the primary healthcare setting. Methods: This study included respondents of both sexes aged 18-90 years, comprising outpatients and the healthcare providers working in the General Medicine Service at the "Liman" Department of the "Novi Sad" Health Center in Novi Sad, Republic of Serbia. Demographic data along with factors related to lifestyle and sleep habits were collected using a demographic questionnaire specifically designed for this research. The standardized Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Questionnaire, Serbian version (PSQI), was used to assess sleep quality. Results: The study sample comprised 92 respondents (42 healthcare providers and 50 patients), 73.9% of whom were female, with an average age of 50.0 years. Although 50% of healthcare providers reported sleeping only 3-6 h the previous night, according to the PSQI results, patients had lower overall sleep quality (54.0% vs. 33.3%; p = 0.046) and achieved lower scores in the DISTB (sleep disturbances, p = 0.001), SLPQUAL (subjective sleep quality, p = 0.013) and MEDS (use of sleeping medication, p = 0.003) PSQI domains. Conclusions: Sleep quality is impaired in more than half of patients and more than a third of healthcare providers. By detecting and acting on the factors in the home and work environment that affect quality of sleep, and by changing lifestyle habits, sleep quality in adults can be improved.