PD169 - DIETARY STRATEGIES FOR PROFESSIONAL WELLBEING: THE ASSOCIATION BETWEEN VEGETARIAN ADHERENCE AND SLEEP QUALITY IN A TEACHING HOSPITAL SETTING

PD169

DIETARY STRATEGIES FOR PROFESSIONAL WELLBEING: THE ASSOCIATION BETWEEN VEGETARIAN ADHERENCE AND SLEEP QUALITY IN A TEACHING HOSPITAL SETTING

J.-H. Wu^1,*, Y.-C. Hou¹

¹Nutrition, Taipei Tzu Chi Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan, Province of China

Rationale: Sleep deprivation and burnout are prevalent in healthcare, yet the impact of dietary patterns on sleep hygiene remains underutilized in medical curricula. This study evaluated the relationship between vegetarian diet adherence and sleep quality among hospital staff.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted at the Department of Nutrition, Taipei Tzu Chi Hospital. We recruited 30 participants from the hospital setting, categorized into three equal groups based on vegetarian diet adherence: High (n=10), Medium (n=10), and Low (n=10). Sleep quality was assessed using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), and dietary intake was analyzed via 3-day food records. Differences were analyzed via the Kruskal-Wallis test.

Results: Participants with Low Vegetarian Adherence reported significantly poorer sleep quality (PSQI Total Score: 10.0± 2.6) compared to the Medium (6.3± 2.4) and High Adherence groups (6.7± 2.7, p 0.015). Nutritional analysis confirmed that high adherence was associated with significantly higher dietary fiber intake (15.4± 3.0 g/d vs. 8.5± 2.6 g/d, p < 0.001) and lower saturated fat consumption (p 0.006). Notably, the Low Adherence group exhibited significantly higher scores in Daytime Dysfunction (p 0.027) and Sleep Disturbance (p 0.019), suggesting a correlation between lower plant-based intake and reduced daytime alertness.

Conclusion: Vegetarian-oriented diets are associated with better sleep and reduced daytime dysfunction in hospital settings. Integrating plant-based nutrition into health programs can provide healthcare providers with actionable tools to improve resilience and manage stress.

Disclosure of Interest: None declared