Insomnia and the use of sleep medications among nurses in northwest Iran: A web-based survey of prevalence and correlates

Atefeh Asadpour  Asl; Elnaz  Asghari; Farnaz  Rahmani; Leili  Zailame; Parvin  Sarbakhsh; Amir Saberi  Kojabadi

doi:10.18502/npt.v12i4.19655

Atefeh Asadpour Asl Department of Medical Surgical Nursing, Nursing and Midwifery Faculty, Tabriz University of Medical Science, Tabriz, Iran
Elnaz Asghari Research Center of Psychiatric and Behavioral Sciences, Razi Hospital, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
Farnaz Rahmani Research Center of Psychiatric and Behavioral Sciences, Razi Hospital, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
Leili Zailame Department of Nursing Management, Deputy of Treatment, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
Parvin Sarbakhsh Health and Environment Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
Amir Saberi Kojabadi Department of Medical Surgical Nursing, Nursing and Midwifery Faculty, Tabriz University of Medical Science, Tabriz, Iran

DOI: https://doi.org/10.18502/npt.v12i4.19655

Keywords: insomnia severity; nurses; benzodiazepines; shift work; regression analysis

Abstract

Background & Aim: There is a growing global reliance on sleep medications among healthcare professionals, raising concerns about dependency and health outcomes. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of insomnia, sleep medication usage, and their correlates among nurses.

Methods & Materials: This cross-sectional study employed a web-based survey to recruit 1,213 nurses from university hospitals in East Azerbaijan Province, Iran, via institutional portals. Participants completed the Insomnia Severity Index and a profile of insomnia medication usage. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, analytical tests, and multiple linear regression in SPSS 21 (p < 0.05).

Results: Among 1,213 participants (84.3% female, mean age 36.9 ± 8.5 years), the majority had subclinical (52.6%) or moderate (38.3%) insomnia. While 41.2% reported using non-drug methods for insomnia, 73.5% did not use any sleep medication. Among medication users, benzodiazepines (10.5%) and herbal remedies (9.5%) were most common. Nurses working rotating shifts (t = -5.93, p< 0.001) and those with >3-night shifts per week (F=19.41, p< 0.001) had higher insomnia severity scores. Multiple linear regression revealed that female gender (β= 1.780, p= 0.009), married status (β= 0.740, p= 0.009), non-use of benzodiazepines (β=-1.284, p = 0.004), and use of non-drug methods (β = -1.789, p< 0.001) were significantly associated with higher ISI score.

Conclusion: Nurses exhibit high insomnia rates and medication dependence, necessitating urgent integration of non-drug approaches like optimized shifts and sleep hygiene programs to reduce severity and improve well-being.