Medical shift work: a narrative review

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Occupational Health
• Sleep Medicine

Background:

• Shift and night work are integral to medical training in certain specialties.
• These work schedules can negatively affect biological functions, cognitive performance, and safety for medical professionals and patients.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review current knowledge on the impact of shift and night work on medical professionals.
• To identify outcomes related to physician well-being and suggest mitigation strategies.

Main Methods:

• A narrative literature review was conducted.
• Searched LILACS, MEDLINE, and SciELO databases for publications from 2010-2020.
• Used keywords: "shift work schedule" and "physicians".

Main Results:

• Twelve publications reported on sleep quality, family relationships, burnout syndrome, and cardiovascular health.
• Shift work's importance in medical training was highlighted, with concerns about lost learning opportunities due to hour limitations.
• Initiatives to mitigate adverse effects were suggested.

Conclusions:

• Shift and night work present a dichotomy between essential training needs and potential detriments to physician health and safety.
• Implementing supportive workplace initiatives is crucial for mitigating negative impacts.
• Further research may explore optimized scheduling and support systems for medical professionals on shift work.