Survey says many healthcare professionals don’t have time to discuss insomnia

WASHINGTON Six-in-10 healthcare professionals in the United States do not think they have enough time to discuss insomnia with their patients during regular office visits, according to a survey.

The National Sleep Foundation and drug maker Sanofi-Aventis U.S. polled 301 healthcare professionals online, with help from WB&A Market Research. They found that 82 percent of those polled think the professional and patient have the responsibility of initiating the conversation about insomnia during office visits. Another 80 percent think their patients try OTC sleep aids often to treat insomnia.

“It’s important for both healthcare professionals and patients to discuss sleep issues during a routine exam including the consequences of insomnia such as increased risk of automotive crashes, decreased work performance, depression or mood changes,” medical director Helene Emsellem of the Center for Sleep and Wake Disorders said. “While we are encouraged by some of the survey results, it’s clear that much more needs to be done to raise awareness of insomnia as a serious medical condition.”

About 30 million Americans have chronic insomnia.