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Shift rotation scheme, sleepiness and sleep quality in night-shift workers
R Lecca1, M Puligheddu1, G M Acar2
1Interdepartmental Sleep Research Centre, Department of Medical Sciences and Public Health, University of Cagliari, SS 554, km 4,500, Monserrato, 09042 Cagliari, Italy.
Occupational Medicine (Oxford, England)
|October 25, 2021
Summary
On-call night shifts significantly increase daytime sleepiness risk compared to fixed night shifts. Both shift types lead to poor sleep quality, with no difference between schemes.
Area of Science:
- Occupational Health
- Sleep Medicine
- Chronobiology
Background:
- Shift rotation schemes significantly impact workers' adaptation to night shifts and overall health.
- Understanding the effects of different shift schedules on worker well-being is crucial for public health.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate how various shift work rotation schemes influence sleepiness and sleep quality.
- To compare the effects of fixed forward-rotating night shifts versus on-call night shifts on worker health outcomes.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional study involving 145 male workers from a ceramic tile factory (fixed shifts) and a dockyard company (on-call shifts).
- Utilized the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) for data collection.
- Employed logistic regression models to analyze the association between shift work and sleep parameters, adjusting for covariates.
Main Results:
- Poor sleep quality (PSQI score ≥6) was prevalent in both night-shift groups, with no significant difference between them.
- Daytime sleepiness (ESS scores) was strongly associated with on-call night shifts (OR=13.4), significantly higher than with fixed forward-rotating night shifts.
Conclusions:
- On-call night shifts pose a greater risk for daytime sleepiness compared to fixed, forward-rotating night shifts.
- While both shift types are linked to poor sleep quality, the specific rotation scheme appears to disproportionately affect daytime alertness.
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