Association Between Gastrointestinal Symptoms and Insomnia among Healthcare Workers: A Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract Background Healthcare workers often suffer from gastrointestinal symptoms and insomnia, which affect their quality of life and job performance. This study explores the link between these conditions in healthcare workers to guide health improvements. Methods This cross-sectional study recruited healthcare workers from various hospitals in Quanzhou via an online survey. The severity of gastrointestinal and insomnia symptoms was assessed using the Gastrointestinal Symptom Rating Scale (GSRS) and Insomnia Severity Index (ISI), respectively. The relationship between gastrointestinal symptoms and insomnia was analyzed using univariate and multivariate logistic regression models. Results A total of 372 healthcare workers participated in the study, and 53.2% of the participants reported having insomnia symptoms. In the unadjusted model, there was a positive correlation between the GSRS total score and the risk of insomnia (OR = 1.21, 95% CI = 1.14–1.28). This positive correlation persisted even after adjusting for confounders such as age, gender, anxiety, depression, somatization, and weekly night shift count (adjusted OR = 1.08, 95% CI = 1.0-1.16). Conclusion Gastrointestinal symptoms and insomnia are significantly positively correlated among healthcare workers. This finding suggests the need to develop interventions that enhance the gastrointestinal and sleep health of healthcare workers, thereby improving their work efficiency and quality of care.