Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 24, 2026

Collecting Sleep, Circadian, Fatigue, and Performance Data in Complex Operational Environments
Published on: August 8, 2019
Shift Work and Sleep Quality Among Urban Police Officers: The BCOPS Study
Desta Fekedulegn1, Cecil M Burchfiel, Luenda E Charles
1Biostatistics and Epidemiology Branch (Dr Fekedulegn, Dr Burchfiel, Dr Charles, Dr Hartley, Dr Andrew), Health Effects Laboratory Division, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Morgantown, West Virginia; Department of Epidemiology and Environmental Health (Dr Violanti), School of Public Health and Health Professions, The State University of New York at Buffalo.
Objective:
The aim of the study was to examine association of shift work with sleep quality in police officers.
Methods:
Data were obtained from the Buffalo Cardio-Metabolic Occupational Police Stress study (n = 363). An electronic work history database was used to define shift as day, afternoon, or night for three durations: past month, 1 year, and 15 years. Sleep quality was determined using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index.
Results:
The overall prevalence of poor sleep quality was 54%; 44% for day, 60% for afternoon, and 69% for night shift. Poor sleep quality was 70% more prevalent among night-shift officers (P < 0.001) and 49% higher among those on the afternoon shift (P = 0.003) relative to officers working on the day shift.
Conclusions:
Night and evening work schedules are associated with elevated prevalence of poor sleep quality among police officers.
Related Concept Videos
Insufficient Sleep and Sleep Deprivation
Sleep deprivation is a more severe form of sleep loss...
Substance Use Disorders Affecting Sleep
Understanding the concepts of physical dependence,...
Chronopharmacokinetics: Circadian Rhythms and Influence on Drug Response
The time of drug administration is an important factor to consider, as it can influence the toxic dose of a drug. For example, a study conducted by Prins et al. in 1997 examined the effects of the timing of...
Understanding Sleep
The circadian rhythm, a nearly 24-hour cycle, is deeply influenced by environmental light cues. Light exposure directly affects the hypothalamus, which in turn regulates...
Sleep-Wake Cycles
NREM Sleep
NREM sleep comprises four progressive stages that seamlessly merge:
Management of Insomnia

