PHYSICAL ACTIVITY, SLEEP QUALITY AND OCCUPATIONAL BURNOUT AMONG ACADEMIC STAFF AT MEDICAL COLLEGE IN JEDDAH, SAUDI ARABIA

Abstract

Background: physical activity (PA) has many health benefits and could affect sleep quality and occupational burnout among academic staff of medical colleges.

Objectives: we aimed to evaluate PA, sleep quality and burnout among academic faculty members of a private Medical College in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. As well as, to analyze the possible relation between PA, sleep quality and burnout among this population.

Methods: a cross-sectional questionnaire-based study was conducted. It included 3 validated questionnaires: short version of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ), Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and Maslach Burnout Inventory-Human Services Survey (MBIHSS).

Results: this study included 139 faculty members, 71.2% were females, 77.0% were non-Saudis and their mean age was 43.47 ± 11.3 years. Regarding BMI, 40.3% were overweight and 25.9% were obese.  35.3% (49/139) of the academic staff had moderate PA and 24.5% (34/139) had high PA. About two third (67.6%) of staff members suffered from poor sleep quality. Regarding burnout domains: 68.3% had low emotional exhaustion (EE), 62.6% had low depersonalization (DP), and 56.1% had high personal achievement. PA score was negatively correlated with age (p=0.001). Predictors of poor sleep were obesity, chronic disease and being a course coordinator. EE and DP were significantly related to age groups (p=0.003, 0.001), gender (p=0.001, 0.012), being a course coordinator (p=0.001, 0.03), sleep quality (p=0.0001, 0.001) and PA (p=0.01, 0.02).

Conclusion: The majority of academic medical staff members were physically active. Poor sleep quality was high among the academic staff and it was higher among course coordinators. EE and DP were generally low among faculty. EE and DP scores were higher among females, course coordinators, physically inactive staff and those with poor sleep quality. Faculty members who are considered physically active had lower EE level.