Relationship of sleep deficiency to perceived pain and functional limitations in hospital patient care workers.
OBJECTIVE
Health care workers are at high risk of developing musculoskeletal symptoms and pain. This study tested the hypothesis that sleep deficiency is associated with pain, functional limitations, and physical limitations that interfere with work.


METHODS
Hospital patient care workers completed a survey (79% response rate) including measures of health, sociodemographic, and workplace factors. Associations of sleep deficiency with pain, work interference due to this pain, and functional limitations were determined.


RESULTS
Of 1572 respondents (90% women; mean age, 41 years), 57% reported sleep deficiency, 73% pain in last 3 months, 33% work interference, and 18% functional limitation. Sleep deficiency was associated with higher rates of pain, work interference, and functional limitation controlling for socioeconomic, individual, and workplace characteristics.


CONCLUSIONS
Sleep deficiency is significantly associated with pain, functional limitation, and workplace interference, suggesting modifiable outcomes for workplace health and safety interventions.
Center for Work, Health, and Well-being, Harvard School of Public Health. orfeu_buxton@hms.harvard.edu
Orfeu M
OM
Buxton
Karen
K
Hopcia
Grace
G
Sembajwe
James H
JH
Porter
Jack T
JT
Dennerlein
Christopher
C
Kenwood
Anne M
AM
Stoddard
Dean
D
Hashimoto
Glorian
G
Sorensen
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D059352:Musculoskeletal Pain / Q000453:epidemiology*; D009726:Nurses / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology; D012306:Risk; D012892:Sleep Deprivation / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires