8287412 Impact of night shift work on the mental health of healthcare workers in a tunisian hospital

<h3>Objectives</h3> To determine the prevalence of anxiety and depression among healthcare workers (HCWs) and identify associated factors. <h3>Methods</h3> This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among HCWs at Taher Sfar Mahdia Hospital. Data were collected via a self-administered questionnaire capturing sociodemographic and professional characteristics. The ‘Hospital Anxiety and Depression scale’ (HADS) was used to screen for anxiety and depression symptoms. The HADS includes 14 items scored from 0 to 3, with seven items assessing anxiety (HAD-A) and seven assessing depression (HAD-D), each subscale yielding a maximum score of 21. A score ≥11 indicates definite anxiety or depression symptoms. <h3>Results</h3> Of 197 HCWs who correctly completed the questionnaire, most were nurses (78.2%). Anxiety symptoms were reported by 49 HCWs (24.9%), and depressive symptoms by 53 (26.9%). HCWs on fixed night shifts had higher rates of anxiety (77.6% vs. 42.6%; p &lt; 0.001) and depression (73.9% vs. 43.1%;p &lt; 0.001) compared to those on other schedules. HCWs reporting alcohol consumption showed a higher prevalence of depressive symptoms (13.2% vs. 4.2%; p = 0.03). Multivariate analysis identified fixed night shift work as significantly associated with anxiety (OR = 4.513, p &lt; 0.001; 95% CI [2.133; 9.55]). Fixed night shift work (OR = 3.54, 95% CI [1.76; 7.14], p &lt; 0.001) and alcohol consumption (OR = 3.03, 95% CI [1.33; 9.95], p = 0.04) were associated with depressive symptoms. HAD-A and HAD-D scores were significantly correlated (Spearman, r = 0.572; p &lt; 0.001). <h3>Conclusion</h3> This study highlights a significant prevalence of anxiety and depressive symptoms among HCWs, particularly linked to fixed night shift work. These findings emphasize the urgent need to address work organization by optimizing work schedules and implementing targeted interventions to prevent anxiety and depression in this vulnerable population.