The 9-hour shift seemed to combine the negative aspects of the 12-hour shift with the negative aspects of the 8-hour shift. It is suggested that the 9-hour shift had more negative effects than the 12-hour shift because: (1) nurses could not choose what shift length they worked; (2) many worked part-time; and (3) they already had many days off. It is also suggested that increases in workload since the 1980s make current extended shifts in nursing more fatiguing.

Eighty-five Dutch railway traffic controllers were studied before and after a change in their continuous shift schedule. The original schedule was slowly rotating. while the experimental schedule had a moderately rapid rotating morning and evening shift, but a slowly rotating night shift. Before and 6 months after the change, questionnaires and a diary were filled in. A decrease in sleep complaints and weekly workload was found. No reduction in the amount of complaints regarding leisure time in the evening was registered; only an increase in satisfaction with leisure time in the evening.