Sleep Deprivation, Occupational Stress, and Work-related Determinants of Sleep Disturbance Among Practicing Physicians: A Cross-sectional Study

A BSTRACT Background: Sleep deprivation and occupational stress are increasingly recognized as critical determinants of physician well-being, with potential implications for healthcare quality and patient safety. However, data on sleep patterns and their determinants among heterogeneous groups of practicing physicians remain limited. Objective: To assess sleep patterns, lifestyle characteristics, and work-related stressors among practicing physicians and to examine their interrelationships. Methods: This cross-sectional, survey-based study was conducted between January and March 2026 among practicing physicians using an anonymous, self-administered electronic questionnaire. A total of 627 physicians participated. Data collected included demographic and professional characteristics, work patterns, lifestyle behaviors, sleep-related parameters, and perceived stress. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize the data. Results: Among 627 physicians, 54.1% reported sleeping ≤6 h per night, and 51.9% experienced sleep disturbance at least twice per week. Nearly one-third (28.3%) reported working more than 60 h per week. Stress negatively affected sleep in 48.5% of respondents. The most common contributors to sleep disruption were anxiety or stress (44.2%) and patient emergencies (31.9%), while key work-related stressors included poor work–life balance (40.5%), administrative burden (36.5%), and high patient load (32.5%). Despite these findings, most physicians reported low tobacco and alcohol use and moderate levels of physical activity. Conclusions: Sleep deprivation and sleep disturbance are highly prevalent among practicing physicians and are strongly associated with work-related stressors rather than lifestyle factors. These findings highlight the need for system-level interventions targeting workload, scheduling, and workplace stress to improve physician sleep health and overall well-being.