A cross-sectional study to compare audio-visual reaction time in medical staff working on shift duty and day duty

Abstract

Background: Medical staff must make quick decisions and respond rapidly in modern healthcare, often working irregular hours to provide continuous care. Shift work disrupts circadian rhythms aligned with the 24-h light-dark cycle, affecting sleep quality and quantity. Adults need 7–9 h of sleep nightly, and insufficient sleep leads to slower, less precise responses and attention lapses. Reaction time, the interval between stimulus and response, is critical in medical settings and is adversely affected by sleep deprivation, resulting in daytime fatigue and reduced cognitive efficiency. This study aims to understand how shift work and day duty impact the audio-visual reaction times of medical staff. By comparing these reaction times, the research seeks to uncover how sleep patterns and circadian disruptions affect cognitive and motor skills. Aims and Objectives: The study aims to know the effect of shift work on the audio-visual reaction time of medical staff working on shift duty to those on day duty. Materials and Methods: The study included medical staff aged 25–40 years working in the parent institute. It is a cross-sectional study. The study consisted of 100 staff working on shift duty (study group) and 100 on day duty (control group), totaling 200 subjects. The study was carried out for 8 months. Subjects were tested for audiovisual reaction time using an audio-visual reaction time apparatus. Audio-visual reaction time was compared using an unpaired t-test. Results: The study group consisted of 64 males and 36 females (n = 100) staff with a mean age of 31.9 ± 4.4 years while the control group consisted of 36 females and 64 males (n = 100) staff with a mean age of 33.0 ± 4.6 years. The study suggests a significant increase in the audiovisual reaction time of the study group compared to the control group with a P < 0.05. Conclusion: The study shows a significant increase in audio-visual reaction time in medical staff working on shift duty compared to those working on day duty.