Saúde e qualidade do sono dos médicos residentes em psiquiatria

Abstract

Medical residents are subjected to high levels of stress and exigencies. However, few studies have focused on health in this group. The aim of this study was to investigate health and sleep quality of psychiatry residents. All psychiatric residents of the State of Ceará (located in Northeastern of Brazil) were invited. Questionnaire and validated scales were applied. Fifty-nine psychiatry residents participated in the survey. Regarding nutritional status, 49.2% of residents were overweight or obese, especially men. In point of physical activity, 61% were sedentary. Concerning mental health, 33.9% had high scores for anxiety symptoms; 30.5% for social phobia; and 19% for depressive symptoms. High scores for anxiety were associated with lower attention (p = 0.012) and worse relationship with preceptors (p = 0.02); and high scores of depressive symptoms were related to a worse relationship with patients (p = 0.04) and preceptors (p = 0.01). Anxiety scores were significantly associated with depressive symptoms (p <0.01) and social phobia (p < 0.01). In point of sleep, 59.3% had poor sleep; and 28.8% had excessive daytime sleepiness. Poor sleep was significantly associated with excessive daytime sleepiness (p = 0.03), longer residence time (p = 0.03), anxiety symptoms (p <0.01) and social phobic symptoms (p = 0.028). Eighty per cent of residents with poor sleep quality never consulted for this reason; 40.7% had used hypnotic medications; and 25.7% used them regularly. The study findings highlight the urgent need to take care of health and sleep quality of psychiatry residents. Assistance programs focused specifically on residents are suggested.