An updated review of the effect of work hours and shift work on musculoskeletal disorders (MSD) in the healthcare sector

Abstract

Musculoskeletal disorders (MSD) are leading causes for sick days and long-term disability, and nurses are amongst the most affected. While long weekly work hours can increase MSD risk, the role of specific shift schedule characteristics in healthcare is poorly understood. For this narrative review, 236 abstracts published since 2008 were screened, and 15 retained manuscripts are summarized for an updated synthesis of the current evidence. In addition to long work hours, we identified night and shift work as MSD risk factors, the latter especially for low back pain. Some studies showed workload and individual factors as effect modifiers. Evidence for specific work schedule characteristics was often not available or of limited quality, hampering the ability to draw further conclusions.