Sleep quality among family medicine physicians before and during COVID-19 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

Background: This study aimed to assess the sleep quality of family medicine physicians before and during the COVID-19 pandemic in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, and to explore the associations between sleep quality and various demographic and health-related factors. Methods: A total of 109 family medicine physicians participated in this cross-sectional study. The Pittsburgh sleep quality index (PSQI) was utilized to evaluate sleep quality, encompassing seven components: subjective sleep quality, sleep latency, sleep duration, sleep efficiency, sleep disturbance, use of sleep medication, and daytime dysfunction. Data were collected asking questions regarding both before and during the pandemic period. Descriptive statistics, paired-sample t-tests, and Chi-square tests were used for data analysis. Results: The study revealed significant changes in sleep quality components before and during the pandemic. While sleep latency and sleep duration improved, sleep disturbance, use of sleep medication, and daytime dysfunction worsened during the pandemic. The overall global PSQI score indicated a decline in sleep quality during the pandemic. Females reported poorer sleep quality than males. Participants with general anxiety disorder, diabetes mellitus, and hypertension experienced worse sleep quality. Other demographic and health-related factors exhibited mixed associations with sleep quality. Conclusions: The study highlights the nuanced impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the sleep quality of family medicine physicians. The observed changes in sleep quality components and their associations with various factors underscore the need for tailored interventions to address sleep disturbances among healthcare professionals. These findings contribute to a comprehensive understanding of sleep quality dynamics in the context of a global crisis and emphasize the significance of promoting well-being among healthcare providers for enhanced patient care.