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Published on: August 8, 2019
Sleep Quality of Former Night-shift Workers
Dumont1, Montplaisir, Infante-Rivard
1Chronobiologie/sommeil, Hôpital du Sacré-Coeur, 5400, boul. Gouin Ouest, Montréal, Québec, Canada, H4J 1C5. dumont@ere.umontreal.ca
Summary
Past night-shift work can negatively impact sleep quality. Long-term night shift nurses experienced reduced slow-wave sleep, indicating persistent sleep disturbances even after stopping night shifts.
Area of Science:
- Occupational Health
- Sleep Medicine
- Nursing Research
Background:
- Night shift work is common in nursing, potentially affecting sleep.
- Understanding the long-term consequences of night shifts on sleep is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between past night-shift work and current sleep quality in nurses.
- To determine if night shift work has lasting effects on sleep architecture.
Main Methods:
- A survey of 479 nurses assessed past night shift frequency and current sleep quality using an insomnia index.
- Polysomnography (sleep recordings) was conducted on 15 day nurses to objectively measure sleep parameters.
Main Results:
- Nurses with 4-10 years of frequent night shifts (>5/month) showed an elevated insomnia index.
- Former night-shift workers exhibited reduced slow-wave sleep, irrespective of subjective sleep complaints.
- A high insomnia index correlated with increased awakenings during sleep.
Conclusions:
- Prolonged and extensive night-shift work may lead to persistent, detrimental effects on sleep quality.
- Objective sleep disturbances, such as reduced slow-wave sleep, can persist after ceasing night shifts.
- This suggests lasting impacts of night shift work on sleep architecture and quality.
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