Sleep, Physical Activity, and General Health Status: US Pediatricians and the General US Adult Population.

OBJECTIVE: To examine US pediatricians and US adults on 3 self-reported health measures (sleep, physical activity, and general health status) and to assess factors related to these measures for each group.

METHODS: Pediatrician data were collected through a 2012 American Academy of Pediatrics Periodic Survey (response rate = 64.0%). US population data originated from the 2012 National Health Interview Survey (response rate = 61.2%). Analytic samples included those currently working and ≥30 years old and were restricted to post-trainees (pediatricians; n = 854) and US adults with at least a bachelor's degree (n = 5447). Accounting for sample demographic differences, predicted probabilities compared the proportions reporting ≥7 hours of sleep, meeting physical activity recommendations, and reporting very good or excellent health. Multivariable logistic regression examined characteristics associated with health measures for pediatricians and US adults separately.

RESULTS: When the US population demographic profile was adjusted to resemble the pediatrician sample, 7 in 10 pediatricians (71.2%; confidence interval [CI], 68.0-74.5) and US adults (69.9%; CI, 67.8-72.0) reported ≥7hours of sleep. Pediatricians were more likely than US adults to meet physical activity recommendations (71.4%; CI, 68.0-74.8vs. 62.9%; CI, 60.6-65.2) and less likely to report very good or excellent health (74.3%; CI, 71.2-77.3vs. 80.2%; CI, 78.3-82.1). In pediatrician and US population multivariable models, self-identified Asians and those working ≥50hours were less likely to get ≥7hours of sleep (P < .05).

CONCLUSIONS: Most US pediatricians and US adults reported getting the recommended amounts of sleep and physical activity and rated their health as very good or excellent. Those working fewer hours reported more sleep. Organization-directed approaches may be needed to help physicians maintain and improve their health.