A study published in *Frontiers in Psychiatry* on July 22, 2026, analyzed post-pandemic sleep quality among hospital clinical staff in Haikou, China. Conducted in April 2023, the research included a 33-item questionnaire completed by clinical personnel at a tertiary hospital. It assessed demographic factors and utilized the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) along with simplified versions of the Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale (GAD-2) and the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-2).
Read More
The study found that 55.8% of respondents (293 out of 525) reported poor sleep quality, defined as a PSQI score of 7 or higher. Notably, nurses reported significantly poorer sleep quality than physicians and other clinical staff. Higher education levels correlated with better sleep quality, while anxiety and depression symptoms linked closely with poorer sleep metrics, prolonged sleep onset, and decreased overall sleep time.
Multiple linear regression analysis indicated statistically significant associations between sleep quality and factors such as profession type, education level, night shift work, as well as anxiety and depression symptoms.
This research underscores the unique stressors faced by healthcare workers, particularly during the transition from pandemic conditions, and highlights the need for further investigations into sleep quality and mental health strategies aimed at this population. The findings aim to inform future policy and support mechanisms for healthcare staff at risk of poor sleep and related burnout.