Differences between fixed day shift nurses and rotating and irregular shift nurses in work-related musculoskeletal disorders: A literature review and meta-analysis

Abstract

Objectives Work‐related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) are common occupational injuries for nurses. Furthermore, rotating and irregular shift work may exacerbate muscle tension and pain in nurses. The objective of this study was to examine the differences between fixed day shift (FDS) nurses and rotating and irregular shift (RS + IS) nurses in WMSDs using a systematic literature review and meta‐analysis. Methods Databases including PubMed, CINAHL, Cochrane Library, EBSCOhost, and Google Scholar were searched for relevant studies published between 2010 and 2020 using the target keywords. Results This study obtained data on a total of 18 199 nurses, among which 12 786 comprised the RS + IS group and 5413 constituted the FDS group. The result of the heterogeneity test was Q = 79.27 ( P < .001) and I squared = 57.11%, indicating that heterogeneity existed among the studies. Subgroup analyses were also conducted with four groups: neck pain (n = 1818), shoulder and upper limb pain (n = 2525), back pain (n = 11 962), and hip and lower limb pain (n = 1894). Significant differences were found between the RS + IS group and the FDS group with regard to back pain, with the forest plot presenting an odds ratio equaling 1.40 (95% CI: 1.19–1.64, P < .001). Conclusions This meta‐analysis indicated that RS + IS nurses are more likely to experience back pain associated with WMSD than are FDS nurses. The results can serve as a reference to the clinical management for work improvement and thereby reduce or prevent the adverse effects of rotating and irregular shift work on back pain experienced by nurses.

Traumatic dental injuries due to occupational safety accidents of adult workers in Korea: a cross-sectional study

“…Dental traumatic injuries are mainly caused by tra c accidents, violence, and intense sports activities [8, [12][13]; however, there have been no studies on dental injuries caused by accidents in the workplace. Traumatic dental injuries that can occur in the work environment can drastically impact oral health and quality of life [14]. However, only few studies have investigated exposure to acidic substances in the work environment [15] and occupational dental erosion [16].…”

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

“…This clearly established work hours as an independent risk factor for MSD in nursing populations. Overall, the link between work hours and MSD is most robust for back pain, while data regarding neck and shoulder pain are less clear (Caruso/Waters 2008;Chang/Peng 2021).…”

“…Other work hours-related exposures that remain poorly understood include quick returns, weekend work, overtime, and on-call or split schedules. And while a recent meta-analysis by Chang/Peng (2021) based on 17 studies and >18,000 individuals reported a 40% MSD risk increase for "irregular and shift working" nurses as compared to "day shift" nurses, recommendations for work schedule design remain inconclusive, due to their very basic definition of shift work: "Any fixed shift beginning between 7:00 and 9:00 in the morning was defined as FDS [fixed day shift]. All remaining shifts were defined as RS + IS [rotating shift + irregular shift]" (Chang/Peng 2021, p. 2).…”

The Relationship between Shift Work and Occupational Fatigue on Nurses Working on the Pediatrics and Internal Wards of Muhammadiyah Palembang Hospital

“…In contrast to other agencies or institutions, nurses in hospitals must serve until the patient is discharged or treated as an outpatient. Nurses in hospitals must be managed according to work shifts to serve patients within 24 hours (Chang & Peng, 2021).…”