Detrimental Effects of Variable Work Shifts on Quality of Sleep, General Health and Work Performance

Abstract

Objectives: The aim of this study was to explore the detrimental effects of working a varying pattern of 8-hour shifts on quality of sleep, general health and work performance. Subjects and Methods: The Arabic version of the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI)and 2 self-administered questionnaires were used to assess quality of sleep, work performance and general health in a sample of 200 males on a schedule of varying 8-hour shifts at the Kuwait Oil Company. A matched sample of an equal number of workers on a fixed daytime shift as a control group was enrolled in the study. Results: Compared with men working on a straight daytime shift schedule, those working on 8-hour variable shifts exhibited higher rates of heavy smoking (p < 0.003), coffee/tea consumption (p < 0.0001), constipation (p < 0.002), job stress (p < 0.0001) and poor sexual performance (p < 0.0001). Variable-shift workers reported persistent sleep disturbances in 3 dimensions of the global score of the PSQI (p < 0.0001). They also had significantly more complaints of fatigue (p < 0.005), poor level of work performance (p < 0.005) and loss of concentration (p < 0.005). Shift workers were significantly more prone to making errors and having accidents at work, and were more likely to report absence from work than the controls (p < 0.0001 and p < 0.005, respectively). Conclusion: These results suggest that the majority of workers on an 8-hour variable-shift schedule experienced various health problems, poor quality of sleep and an increased risk for errors and accidents at work as compared with those workers on a straight daytime shift schedule. There is a need to compare potential benefits of an alternative work shift schedule.

The Relationship Between Sleep Disorders and Quality of Life in Rotating Shift Workers at a Textile Factory

“…However, some researchers demonstrated that smoking, drinking tea, coffee, and alcoholic beverages are more common among shift workers than day workers (39,40). In these studies, the sample size of the study was much bigger than ours.…”

Turnos de 7 horas versus 12 horas en enfermería intensiva: vivir a contratiempo

“…Además se obtiene un aumento de errores profesionales y accidentes relacionados, en el mismo turno 7,9 . En nuestro estudio la capacidad de conciliación de un sueño reparador no ha mostrado diferencias entre turnos pero sí la presencia de fatiga.…”

“…Se ha demostrado que tiene un efecto sobre el equilibrio del organismo por desfase de los ritmos biológicos (ritmo circadiano [5][6] y patrón de sueño 7 ). Asimismo, influye en la vida social y familiar, ya que los horarios de trabajo interfieren directamente con las actividades de ocio, las obligaciones domésticas y otros quehaceres de la vida cotidiana.…”

Adverse Health effects Associated with Shift Work

“…Shift work is an employment practice designed to make use of, or provide service, all 24 hours of the clock each day of the week, also known as 24/7 [1].The data from the National Health Interview survey Occupational Health Survey,29 % of all U.S. workers in 2010 worked as an alternative shift(not a regular day shift [2],15% of workers worked the night shift regularly [3].Among all occupations, food preparations, and serving occupations had the highest prevalence of working an alternative shift(63%) [2].Shift work has also been traditional in law enforcement and armed forces military personnel, pilots and others that regularly change time zones while performing shift work experience jet lag and consequently suffer sleep disorders [4].The high prevalence of short sleep duration was reported by night shift workers in the transportation and warehousing(69.7%) and health -care and social assistance(52.3%) industries [5].Shift work increases the risk for the development of many disorders(health disorders) includes: risk of diabetes type 2,women on night shifts have 48% increased risk of developing breast cancer [,4,6,7].alteration of circadianrhythm, melatonin suppression [8],the WHO listed shift work that involves circadian disruption as a possible carcinogen[9,],Shift work also increases the risk of developing cluster headaches, heart attacks[110],fatigue, stress, sexual dysfunction [12],depression [13],obesity [4,],metabolic disorders, gastrointestinal disorders, musculoskeletal disorders and reproductive disorders [7]. Prevention include management practices, shift system, shift schedule shiftplan, and better management [14,15].The paper reviews the health disorders of shift workers, and preventive measures.…”