Shift work, sleep, and burnout: the impact of Mediterranean dietary pattern and nutritional status on emergency healthcare workers

This study aims to evaluate the relationship between dietary patterns and shift work, sleep quality and burnout among emergency health-care workers.

The nutritional status, sleep quality and burnout status of health-care workers (n = 91) in Turkey were investigated.

Among the burnout subgroups, only emotional exhaustion was associated with high adherence to the Meditarrenean diet. (r = 0.37, p < 0.01). Carbohydrates consumed during the shift day were associated with lower sleep quality (r = 0.24, p = 0.02). The intake of protein (r = −0.29, p < 0.01), fat (r = −0.27, p < 0.00), cholesterol (r = −0.31, p < 0.01), phosphorus (r = −0.22, p = 0.03) and iron (r = −0.21, p = 0.04) in shift day was negatively associated with Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) scores (lower PSQI scores indicates good sleep quality). Consumption of vitamin C and potassium on the rest day was significantly associated with better sleep quality (respectively, r = −0.21, p = 0.04 and r=−0.23, p = 0.03). Personal accomplishment was positively correlated with carbohydrate consumption during the shift day and negatively correlated with protein, cholesterol and vitamin B6 intake (respectively, r = 0.22, p = 0.03; r = −0.21, p = 0.03; r=−0.28, p < 0.00, r = −0.28, p < 0.00). Emotional exhaustion was negatively correlated with protein consumption on the shift day (r = −0.21, p = 0.04) and positively correlated with fat consumption on the rest day (r = 0.22, p = 0.02).

The findings confirm the possible role of dietary patterns in health-care workers against burnout and sleep quality attributable to a possible association with nutrients intake on shift or rest day.