The relationship between post-traumatic stress disorder and sleep quality in intensive care unit professionals.

Abstract

Background: Intensive care units (ICUs) have impact on physical and mental health not only for patients but also for health professionals. Post-traumatic stress disorder that may occur in ICU professionals may negatively affect the treatment and care process by affecting their sleep quality.

Aim: This study aims to evaluate the relationship between post-traumatic stress disorder and sleep quality in intensive care unit professionals.

Study design: The cross-sectional study conducted with 341 (nurses, physicians and others) professionals working in the ICUs in Turkey. Data were collected with a socio-demographic form, Posttraumatic Stress Disorder-Short Scale (PTSD-SS) and Richard-Campbell Sleep Questionnaire (RCSQ).

Results: The mean PTSD-SS and RCSQ scale scores of the participants were 15.37 ± 6.72 (min: 0, max: 35) and 46.61 ± 22.46 (min: 0, max: 100). When the cutoff points of the scores obtained from PTSD-SS was examined, 12.9% (n = 33) of ICU nurses, 11.3% (n = 6) of the physicians and 3.4% (n = 1) of the other health professionals had post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms, and it was determined that the prevalence of PTSD in all ICU professionals was 12% (n = 40). In addition, there was a statistically significant negative weak correlation between PTSD-SS and RCSQ (r = -0.207) (p < .05).

Conclusions: The results of this study show that increasing the level of PTSD causes sleep quality to deteriorate. Therefore, evaluation and recognition of PTSD symptoms in ICU professionals and interventions to be important in maintaining sleep quality. Additionally, the results of this study can be used in planning to improve the mental health of ICU nurses. Therefore, greater support for ICU nurses to prevent PTSD is recommended.

Relevance to clinical practice: It is important and necessary to prevent the development of PTSD in ICU nurses and to reduce its negative impact on sleep quality.