The Effect of Night Duty of Pharmacists on Sleepiness and Concentration at Daytime

The changing responsibilities of pharmacists contribute to a lack of qualified pharmacists to fill vacant positions, particularly in rural areas. Consequently, pharmacy managers cover various duties, including an increasing number of nights being on duty that can impair daytime concentration and performance. The objective of the study was to assess the effect of night duties on daytime sleepiness, sleep quality, and concentration abilities of pharmacists.

22 pharmacists, both sexes, aged 27 to 60 years, were recruited and their sleep time, sleep efficiency, and mobility (actigraphy) were assessed during a night on duty and a control night using an actimetry. Daytime sleepiness and concentration were assessed using standardized questionnaires (ESS, KSS, d2-R).

Significant differences were observed between the night shift and control nights with respect to sleep time, sleep efficiency, and mobility. Daytime sleepiness was significantly increased after night shifts (ESS: 11.64 vs. 2.09; KSS: 6.77 vs. 2.41 after a night shift and control night, respectively; p < 0.001) and concentration diminished compared to control nights (d2-R KL: 220.95 vs. 260.36 after a night shift and control night, respectively; p < 0.001).

The results provide evidence that night duties lead to high daytime sleepiness in pharmacists, which in turn may negatively affect their ability to concentrate and their error rate. Existing regulations on emergency pharmacy services should be reconsidered regarding the safety of the pharmaceutical supply.