SLEEP DISORDERS AMONG PHYSICIANS: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW OF PREVALENCE, IMPACT ON BURNOUT, AND PATIENT SAFETY

SESSION TITLE: Sleep and Health Determinants SESSION TYPE: Rapid Fire Original Inv PRESENTED ON: 10/10/2023 12:00 pm - 12:45 pm PURPOSE: Over 90% of sleep disorders are underdiagnosed and untreated. Several studies have demonstrated a correlation between sleep deprivation in physicians and well-being, however, little is known about the prevalence of common sleep disorders among physicians and its impact on patient care and safety. This article aims to conduct a systematic review on sleep disorders among physicians and shed some light on its potential association with burnout and patient safety. METHODS: A systematized search was conducted on PubMed from May 2003 till February 2023 to identify original investigations reporting sleep impairment in doctors and its potential association with burnout and patient safety. The primary outcome was defined as prevalence of sleep disorder among physicians, as well as objective and subjective measures of burnout and patient safety. We focused on common sleep disorders, including obstructive sleep apnea, insomnia, circadian rhythm disorder, restless leg syndrome and sleep deprivation. RESULTS: Total 48 articles were deemed eligible for inclusion with a combined total of 33,828 participants. Majority (40%) of the studies were conducted in North America. Quantitative synthesis revealed sleep deprivation was prevalent among physicians and trainee physicians (71%, 95% CI 43%-61%, N=6 studies, I2=83.93), as well as daytime sleepiness (52%, 95% CI 43%-61%, N=7, I2=83.93). Insomnia was also commonly reported (37%, 95% CI 26%-49%, N=13, I2=98.92). Prevalence of burnout among physicians and residents was estimated from pooled data analysis of 8 studies. Overall burnout rate was 49% (95% CI 39%-58%, I2=97.49). Patient safety data in relation to physician performance could not be analyzed due to variation in performance tests. However, psychomotor vigilance tests (PVT) were frequently used to assess cognitive performance. CONCLUSIONS: Our systematic review highlights the high prevalence of sleep disorders among physicians, with sleep deprivation, daytime sleepiness, and insomnia being most commonly reported. Despite the high heterogeneity, our findings suggest a concerning burnout rate among physicians with ~50% experiencing burnout. This can negatively impact patient care, further emphasizing the need for future studies where healthcare organizations screen for and address sleep disorders in physicians. Providing support to physicians to manage sleep disorders, reduce workplace exhaustion and burnout may lead to better patient care, improved physician well-being, and ultimately help alleviate the existing physician shortage. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: This review may contribute to a better understanding of the challenges faced by medical professionals and the need for improved sleep health management in the medical field. It may also help develop strategies to improve physician well-being, occupational efficiency, and retention through effective sleep disorder management. DISCLOSURES: No relevant relationships by Zara Arshad No relevant relationships by Vikas Bansal No relevant relationships by Rahul Kashyap No relevant relationships by Diksha Mahendru No relevant relationships by Priyal Dilip Mehta No relevant relationships by Faisal Nawaz No relevant relationships by Aakanksha Singh No relevant relationships by Sawsan Tawfeeq