Insomnia in female nurses: a nationwide retrospective study

OBJECTIVE: This study explored the incidence of insomnia in female nursing staff and compared the incidence with that in other medical and nonmedical female workers. METHODS: This retrospective study analyzed female nurses with insomnia using data from January 1, 2004 to December 31, 2008. The incidence of insomnia in other female medical workers and nonmedical female workers was also analyzed and compared with that of the nurses. Using the Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database, each study patient was identified by ID number. The incidence and rate ratio of insomnia were calculated according to their outpatient claims. RESULTS: Compared with other medical and nonmedical female workers, female nurses had higher incidences of adjustment insomnia and psychophysiological insomnia. However, female nurses had a lower incidence of nonorganic insomnia than did other female medical personnel. Older participants and those with the comorbidities of depressive and respiratory disorders had a higher risk of insomnia than did younger participants and those with other comorbidities. CONCLUSION: We suggest that nurses should be encouraged to relax in order to facilitate stress relief and improve their quality of sleep.