Hostname: page-component-848d4c4894-mwx4w Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-06-19T03:41:18.543Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

A survey to describe sleep-facilitating substances used by Canadian emergency physicians

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  21 May 2015

Benoit Bailey  and
Lubomir Alexandrov
Benoit Bailey*
Affiliation:
Division of Emergency Medicine and the Division of Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology, Department of Pediatrics, Hôpital Ste-Justine, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Que. Research Centre, Hôpital Ste-Justine, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Que.
Lubomir Alexandrov
Affiliation:
Research Centre, Hôpital Ste-Justine, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Que.
*
Hôpital Ste-Justine, 3175, chem. Côte-Ste-Catherine, Montréal QC H3T 1C5; 514 345-4931 x6276, fax 514 345-4823, benoit.bailey@umontreal.ca

Abstract

Core share and HTML view are not available for this content. However, as you have access to this content, a full PDF is available via the ‘Save PDF’ action button.
Background:

Because night shifts disrupt the normal circadian rhythm, sleep management is crucial for emergency physicians. The purpose of the survey was to describe the use of sleep-facilitating substances (SFSs) by emergency physicians before or after a night shift and to evaluate factors associated with their use.

Methods:

All members of the Canadian Association of Emergency Physicians with a Canadian postal address were mailed a copy of the survey. Canadian physicians were eligible if they worked at least one night shift per month and spent 50% or more of their time in emergency medicine. Logistic regression was used to identify characteristics most predictive of using SFSs before or after a night shift.

Results:

Of the 1621 surveys mailed, 805 were returned completed, for a response rate of 49.6%. Of these, 628 respondents met inclusion criteria and 215 respondents (34%) reported consuming at least one SFS in their career to help them sleep around a night shift. The use of an SFS before a night shift was associated with the use of SFSs after a night shift (odds ratio [OR] 3.8; 95% confidence interval [CI] 2.4–5.9) and the use of SFSs at other times (OR 3.8; 95% CI 2.1–6.6). The use of SFSs after a night shift was associated with the use of a sleep-facilitating technique before a night shift (OR 2.1; 95% CI 1.3–3.3); use of an SFS before a night shift (OR 4.0; 95% CI 2.4–6.4); use of SFSs at other times (OR 4.7; 95% CI 2.6–8.4); and success of a nap before the night shift (OR 0.46; 95% CI 0.25–0.83).

Conclusion:

The rate of SFS use is similar in emergency physicians and other shift workers. Emergency physicians who use SFSs before or after a night shift are more likely to use them at other times as well, and less likely to use them if they nap successfully prior to a night shift.

Keywords

shift workemergency medicinesleeping aids
Type
EM Advances • Innovations en MU
Information
Canadian Journal of Emergency Medicine , Volume 7 , Issue 2 , March 2005 , pp. 93 - 99
Copyright
Copyright © Canadian Association of Emergency Physicians 2005

References

1.Kuhn, G.Circadian rhythm, shift work, and emergency medicine. Ann Emerg Med 2001;37:88–98.Google Scholar
2.James, M, Tremea, M, Jones, J.Can melatonin improve adaptation to night shift? Am J Emerg Med 1998;16:367–70.Google Scholar
3.Jorgensen, K, Witting, M.Does exogen melatonin improve day sleep or night alertness in emergency physicians working night shifts? Ann Emerg Med 1998;31:699–704.Google Scholar
4.Wright, S, Lawrence, L, Wreen, K.Randomized clinical trial of melatonin after night-shift work: efficacy and neuropsychologic effects. Ann Emerg Med 1998;32:334–40.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
5.Jockovich, M, Cosentino, D, Cosentino, L, Wears, RL, Seaberg, DC.Effect of exogenous melatonin on mood and sleep efficiency in emergency medicine residents working night shifts. Acad Emerg Med 2000;7:955–8.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
6.Winget, C, De Roshia, C, Markley, C, et al. A review of human physiological and performance changes associated with desynchronosis of biological rhythms. Aviat Space Environ Med 1984;55:1085–96.Google ScholarPubMed
7.Rutenfranz, J, Knauth, P, Colquhoun, W.Hours of work and shiftwork. Ergonomics 1976;19:331–40.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
8.Dominighetti, G, Tomamichel, M, Gutswiller, F, Berthoud, S, Casabianca, A.Psychoactive drug use among medical doctors is higher than the general population. Soc Science Med 1991;33:269–74.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
9.Rosvold, EO, Vaglum, P, Moum, T.Use of minor tranquilizers (hypnotics and anxiolytics) among Norwegian physicians. A nation-wide comparative study. Soc Science Med 1998;46:581–90.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
10.McAuliffe, WE, Rohman, M, Santangelo, S, Feldman, B, Magnuson, E, Sobol, A, et al. Psychoactive drug use among practicing physicians and medical students. N Engl J Med 1986;315:805–10.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
11.Flaherty, JA, Richman, JA.Substance use and addiction among medical students, residents, and physicians. Psychiatr Clin N Am 1993;16:189–97.Google Scholar
12.Niedhammer, I, Lert, F, Marne, MJ.Psychotropic drug use and shift work among French nurses (1980–1990). Psychol Med 1995;25:329–38.Google Scholar
13.Johnson, EO, Roehrs, T, Roth, T, Breslau, N.Epidemiology of alcohol and medication as aids to sleep in early adulthood. Sleep 1998;21:178–86.Google Scholar
14.National Sleep Foundation. Sleep in America: A national survey of US adults. Princeton (NJ): The Gallup Organizations; 1991.Google Scholar
15.National Sleep Foundation. Sleep in America: A national survey of US adults. Princeton (NJ): The Gallup Organizations; 1995.Google Scholar
16.Pillitteri, Jl, Kozlowski, LT, Person, DC, Spear, ME.Over-the-counter sleep aids: widely used but rarely studied. J Subs Abuse 1994;6:315–23.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed