The relation between sleep quality, suicidal thoughts and job efficacy among healthcare workers in public hospitals of Kabul City

Healthcare professionals in Afghanistan face extraordinary challenges due to systemic and cultural factors, with sleep quality emerging as a critical determinant of their physical and mental well-being. Poor sleep quality has been strongly linked to higher suicidal thoughts and diminished job performance, compounding the difficulties faced in the understaffed and high-pressure environment of government hospitals in Kabul City. The purpose of this research is to explore the interrelations between sleep quality, suicidal ideation, and job effectiveness in healthcare professionals, with a view to developing focused interventions. A Correlational study was carried out among 130 health workers in Kabul City government hospitals. Data were gathered through standardized tools: Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), Beck Scale for Suicidal Ideation (BSSI), and Job Efficacy Scale. Statistical analyses included Spearman correlation and descriptive statistics. An astounding 60% of the healthcare workers had poor sleep quality, and suicidal thoughts and sleep quality were strongly positively correlated (r = 0.328, p < 0.001). There was no correlation between job efficacy, suicidal ideation, and sleep quality. These results underscore the imperative need for sleep hygiene interventions for healthcare workers in Kabul City. Improved quality of sleep can alleviate suicidal ideation and general well-being, leading to better healthcare outcomes. Larger sample sizes and culturally specific interventions must take high priority in future studies to explore these associations.