Perceived effects of rotating shift work on nurses' sleep quality and duration

Area of Science:

• Occupational Health
• Sleep Medicine
• Nursing Studies

Background:

• Rotating shift work is common in healthcare, potentially impacting nurses' well-being.
• Understanding the effects of shift work on sleep is crucial for healthcare worker health.
• Previous studies suggest shift work disrupts circadian rhythms and sleep patterns.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the impact of rotating shift work on sleep quality and duration among nurses.
• To investigate the effects of day shifts, night shifts, and recovery periods on nurses' sleep.
• To determine if fatigue accumulates during rotating shift schedules.

Main Methods:

• Longitudinal study involving 24 female nurses on rotating shifts and 22 controls at Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital, Malawi.
• Nurses followed a three-phase schedule: day shifts, night shifts, and days off.
• Sleep quality and duration were measured using validated questionnaires, including the Subjective Sleep Quality (SSQ) scale.

Main Results:

• Shift phase significantly affected total sleep duration (P < 0.000) and perceived sleep quality (P < 0.000).
• Night shift work was strongly associated with reduced sleep quality and duration.
• Negative sleep effects persisted into the recovery period, suggesting accumulated fatigue.

Conclusions:

• Rotating shift work, particularly night shifts, impairs nurses' sleep quality and duration.
• Fatigue accumulation occurs during rotating shift schedules, impacting nurses even after shifts end.
• Interventions may be needed to mitigate the adverse sleep and fatigue effects of shift work in nursing.