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. 2018 Jan-Apr;22(1):29-34.
doi: 10.4103/ijoem.IJOEM_4_18.

Effect of Shift Work on Sleep, Health, and Quality of Life of Health-care Workers

Evangelia Nena  1 , Maria Katsaouni  1   2 , Paschalis Steiropoulos  2 , Evangelos Theodorou  3 , Theodoros C Constantinidis  1 , Grigorios Tripsianis  3
Affiliations

Effect of Shift Work on Sleep, Health, and Quality of Life of Health-care Workers

Evangelia Nena et al. Indian J Occup Environ Med. 2018 Jan-Apr.

Abstract

Background: Shift work is associated with sleep disruption, impaired quality of life, and is a risk factor for several health conditions. Aim of this study was to investigate the impact of shift work on sleep and quality of life of health-care workers (HCW).

Settings: Tertiary University hospital in Greece.

Study design: Cross-sectional study.

Materials and methods: Included were HCW, working either in an irregular shift system or exclusively in morning shifts. All participants answered the WHO-5 Well-Being Index (WHO-5) and a questionnaire on demographics and medical history. Shift workers filled the Shift Work Disorders Screening Questionnaire (SWDSQ).

Statistical analysis: Descriptive statistics, Student's t-test, one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), Pearson's r correlation coefficient, and multivariate stepwise linear regression analysis were applied.

Results: Included were 312 employees (87.9% females), 194 working in irregular shift system and 118 in morning shifts. Most shift-workers (58.2%) were somehow or totally dissatisfied with their sleep quality. Regression analysis revealed the following independent determinants for sleep impairment: parenthood (P < 0.001), age 36-45 years (P < 0.001), >3 night shifts/week (P < 0.001), work >5 years in an irregular shift system (P < 0.001). Diabetes mellitus was the most common medical condition reported by shift workers (P = 0.008). Comparison between the two groups revealed a significantly impairment in WHO-5 total score, as well as in 4 of 5 of its items (P < 0.001).

Conclusion: Shift-work impairs quality of life, whereas its duration and frequency, along with age and family status of employees can have adverse effects on sleep.

Keywords: Health-care workers; nurses; quality of life; shift work; sleep disorder.

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Conflict of interest statement

There are no conflicts of interest.

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