Risk of Type 2 Diabetes Development in Nurses: Does Shift Work Affect It?

Area of Science:

• Occupational Health
• Endocrinology
• Nursing Research

Background:

• Shift work is a known contributor to chronic disease development.
• Nurses are a population group frequently exposed to various shift work schedules.
• Understanding the specific risks associated with shift work in nursing is crucial for preventative health.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between different shift work systems and the risk of developing type 2 diabetes among nurses.
• To identify specific shift patterns or durations that pose a higher risk for type 2 diabetes in this demographic.

Main Methods:

• A descriptive, cross-sectional study involving 278 nurses.
• Data collected via an online survey using a demographic form and the Finnish Type 2 Diabetes Risk Score.
• Snowball sampling technique employed for participant recruitment.

Main Results:

• Over half of nurses (56.1%) worked 24-hour shifts, and 39.2% worked ≥8 night shifts monthly.
• A significant positive correlation was found between shift work duration and type 2 diabetes risk (p=0.005).
• Nurses in Emergency Departments working 08:00-08:00 shifts showed a significantly higher diabetes risk (p<0.001).

Conclusions:

• Shift work, particularly prolonged durations and specific schedules like 24-hour shifts in Emergency Departments, elevates type 2 diabetes risk in nurses.
• While longer experience in day/24-hour shifts showed a lower risk, overall findings indicate a need for risk mitigation.
• Implementing targeted interventions and workplace strategies is essential to reduce type 2 diabetes risk and promote the health of nursing professionals.