Kentab Osama Y, Ibrahim Ahmad AAl, Soliman Khaled R, Aljahany Muna, Alresseeni Abdulaziz I, Algarni Abdulaziz S
Emergency Department, King Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz University Hospital, Princess Nourah Bint Abdulrahman University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Clinical Sciences Department, College of Medicine, Princess Nourah Bint Abdulrahman University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Open Access Emerg Med. 2021 Jul 28;13:343-353. doi: 10.2147/OAEM.S310324. eCollection 2021.
This study explores the prevalence and patterns of the use of pharmacologic sleep aids and stimulants among Saudi Arabia's emergency physicians (EPs) and emergency medical services (EMS) providers.
We adopted a descriptive, cross-sectional design. To collect data on the types and frequencies of sleep aids and stimulants used, we distributed a semi-structured, anonymous, web-based questionnaire to registered EPs, paramedics, and emergency medicine technicians (EMTs) in the Saudi Commission for Health Specialties. An internal consistency analysis showed good reliability (Cronbach's alpha=0.667) of the questionnaire. A subscale analysis confirmed the results-alpha values were 0.720 and 0.618 for the use of sleep aids and stimulants, respectively.
Males and females represented 81.8% and 18.2%, respectively, of the valid sample of 669 participants. Respondents aged 25-34, 35-44, and 45-55 years represented 51.9%, 32.7%, and 10.2% of the sample, respectively. Results showed that a majority of the respondents (67.1%) used stimulants. Caffeine was the most common stimulant; caffeine and energy drinks were used by 65.9% and 17.2% of the respondents, respectively. Caffeine, energy drinks, nicotine, and ephedrine were used by 65.9%, 17.2%, 18.5%, and 17.3% of the respondents, respectively. The respondents who used at least one sleeping aid and those using only one and two sleeping aids accounted for 36.6%, 15.6%, and 9.7%, respectively. The most common sleeping aids antihistamines and marijuana were used on most days by 13.4% and 13.3% of the respondents, respectively. The average monthly number of night shifts (P = 0.025) significantly influenced sleep aid use. Respondents working in night shifts for 3-5 months or more than 7 days were more likely to use sleeping aids.
Future research should enhance health workers' knowledge of the efficacy and safety of these medications and guide strategies to organize and reduce night shift work.
本研究探讨沙特阿拉伯急诊医师（EPs）和紧急医疗服务（EMS）提供者使用药物助眠剂和兴奋剂的患病率及模式。
我们采用了描述性横断面设计。为收集有关使用助眠剂和兴奋剂的类型及频率的数据，我们向沙特卫生专业委员会注册的急诊医师、护理人员和急诊医学技术员（EMTs）发放了一份半结构化、匿名的网络问卷。内部一致性分析显示问卷具有良好的信度（Cronbach's alpha = 0.667）。子量表分析证实了结果——使用助眠剂和兴奋剂的alpha值分别为0.720和0.618。
在669名参与者的有效样本中，男性和女性分别占81.8%和18.2%。年龄在25 - 34岁、35 - 44岁和45 - 55岁的受访者分别占样本的51.9%、32.7%和10.2%。结果显示，大多数受访者（67.1%）使用兴奋剂。咖啡因是最常见的兴奋剂；分别有65.9%和17.2%的受访者使用咖啡因和能量饮料。分别有65.9%、17.2%、18.5%和17.3%的受访者使用咖啡因、能量饮料、尼古丁和麻黄碱。使用至少一种助眠剂的受访者以及仅使用一种和两种助眠剂的受访者分别占36.6%、15.6%和9.7%。最常见的助眠剂抗组胺药和大麻，分别有13.4%和13.3%的受访者在大多数日子使用。夜班的平均月数（P = 0.025）对助眠剂的使用有显著影响。从事3 - 5个月或超过7天夜班工作的受访者更有可能使用助眠剂。
未来的研究应提高卫生工作者对这些药物疗效和安全性的认识，并指导组织和减少夜班工作的策略。
