Gastrointestinal symptoms and sleep disturbance in female nurses

Main Article Content

Diana Samara

Abstract

Sleep disturbance is a common symptom in the general population. An association between sleep disturbances and functional gastrointestinal (GI) disorders has been reported by several investigators. GI symptoms are more common among people with sleep disturbance in female nurses. To explore this issue further, a study using a cross sectional design was conducted to determine whether unexplained GI symptoms are more common in female nurses with self-reported sleep disturbance. This study was conducted from February through April 2007 in Hospital X in Central Jakarta. A total of 152 female nurses participated in this study. A questionnaire consisting mainly of items concerning sleep disturbance was distributed to the subjects. Significant associations were observed between gastrointestinal symptoms such as anorexia and constipation and sleep disturbance. Constipation was significantly more common in female nurses with sleep disturbance (prevalence ratio=6.1;95% C.I. 1.76 – 20.56), but the association between shift work and sleep disturbance was not statistically significant (prevalence ratio=1.67;95% C.I. 0.53-5.24). Both constipation and anorexia are more prevalent in female nurses with self-reported sleep disturbance. Further research to understand the associations between GI symptoms and sleep disturbance is warranted.

Article Details

How to Cite
Samara, D. (2009). Gastrointestinal symptoms and sleep disturbance in female nurses. Universa Medicina, 28(2), 100–105. Retrieved from https://univmed.org/ejurnal/index.php/medicina/article/view/235
Section
Review Article

References

National Sleep Foundation. Sleep in America Poll. Washington, DC. Available at: http://www. sleepfoundation.org/2003poll.cfm. Accessed August 1, 2009.

Vege SS, Richard Locke III G, Weaver AL, Farmer SA, Joseph Melton III L, Talley NJ. Functional gastrointestinal disorders among people with sleep disturbances: a population-based study. Mayo Clin Proc 2004;79:1501-6.

Fass R, Fullerton S, Tung S, Mayer EA. Sleep disturbances in clinic patients with functional bowel disorders. Am J Gastroenterol 2000;95:1195-200.

Akerstedt T. Shift work and disturbed sleep/wakefulness. Occup Med 2003;53:89–94.

Basner RC. Shift-work sleep disorder the glass is more than half empty. N Engl J Med 2005;353:353-5.

Drake CL, Roehrs T, Richardson G, Walsh JK, Roth T. Shift work sleep disorder: prevalence and consequences beyond that of symptomatic day workers. Sleep 2004;27:1453-62.

Knutsson A. Health disorders of shift workers. Occup Med 2003;53:103-8.

Karlsson B, Knutsson A, Lindahl B. Is there an association between shift work and having a metabolic syndrome? Results from a population based study of 27,485 people. Occup Environ Med 2001;58:747-52.

Merijanti LT, Samara D, Tandean R, Harrianto R. The role of night shift work on blood pressure among healthy female nurses. Univ Med 2008;27:65-71

Giovanni Costa Shift work and occupational medicine: an overview. Occup Med 2003;53:83–8.

Ohida T, Kamal AMM, Sone T, Ishii T, Uchiyama M, Minowa M, et al. Night-shift work related problems in young female nurses in Japan. J Occup Health 2001;43:150–6.

Garbarino S, Bellke M, Costa G, Violani C, Lucidi F, Ferrilo F, et al. Brain function and effects of shift work: implication for clinical neuropharmacology. Neuropsychobiology 2002;45:50-6.

Scott AJ. Shift work and health. Prim Care 2000;27:1057-79.

Ohayon MM, Lemoine P, AB Veronique, Dreyfus M. Prevalence and cosequences of sleep disorders in a shift worker population. J Psychosom Res 2002;53:577-83.

Chung MH, Chang FM, Yang CH. Sleep quality and morningness-eveningness of shift nurses. J Clin Nurs 2009;18:279-84.

Chan MF. Factors associated with perceived sleep quality of nurses working on rotating shifts. J Clin Nurs 2009;18:285-93.

Sivertsen B, Overland S, Neckelmann D, Glozier N, Krokstad N, le Pallesen S, et al. The long-term effect of insomnia on work disability. The HUNT-2 historical cohort study. Am J Epidemiol 2006;163:1018–24.