ABSTRACT
Objective To investigate the prevalence of sleep quality and mental disturbances of medical staff and identify the effects of region, epidemic stage, and demographic characteristics during the COVID-19 outbreak in China. Method Self-administered questionnaire were sent to health care workers (HCWs) in China from 30 Jan to 2 March, 2020. The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, the Patient Health Questionare-9, the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 and the Impact of Event Scale were used to assess sleep quality, depression symptoms, anxiety symptoms and Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) of HCWs, respectively. The influencing factors of psychological and sleep disturbances were identified by univariate analysis and multiple regression. Result The incidence of people getting depression, anxiety or PTSD symptoms were 11.6%,13.3%, 14.3%, respectively. HCWs in Hubei province experienced significantly poorer sleep quality (t=5.034, P<0.001). The predictors of sleep quality among HCWs were COVID-19 stage 2 (β=.135, p=.014) and 3 (β=.184, p=.001), female (β=.141, p=.003) and older age (β=.160, p=.001).Not working in Hubei province (β=-.264, P<0.001) showed to be a protective factor of sleep quality. The risk factors of depression symptoms were not working in Hubei province (OR=4.318, P<0.001), administrative and logistic staff and others (OR=3.538, p=.011), and higher PSQI score (OR=1.282, P<0.001). Having children (under-age: OR=.292, p=.001, grown-up: OR=.293, p=.042) was identified as a protective factor of having depression symptoms. Poor sleep quality showed to be the risk factor of anxiety and PTSD symptoms as well (both p<.001). Furthermore, administrative and logistic staff and others (OR=3.399, p=.006) were found to be the risk factor of PTSD symptoms among HCWs. Conclusion HCWs had poorer sleep quality on stage 2and 3 of the outbreak. HCWs in Hubei had poorer sleep quality but lighter depression condition. gender, age, occupation and status of having children were associated with sleep and mental health. Mental health programs should be considered for HCWs especially those with specific characteristics. Key words COVID-19, Depression, Anxiety, PTSD, Sleep quality, Health care workers