Effect of Night Shift on the Quality of Life of Health Care Workers in Bhopal City w.s.r. to Nidra Vega – A Pilot Study.

Abstract

Background: Vega (natural urges) is a unique concept of Ayurveda and according to Acharya Vagbhatta all disease arises from ‘Vega -Vidharana’ (suppression of natural urges). Night duty is the part and parcel of health care workers life so knowingly or unknowingly they are doing Nidra Vegadharana (Holding of sleep Urge). Thus, the present research work is planned to assess the effect of Night Shift in health care workers and its impact on Quality of Life. Objective: To find-out the impact of Night Shift on Quality of Life in health care workers. To identify symptoms of Nidra Vegadharan (Holding of sleep Urge) mentioned in Brihattrayi in Night shift health workers. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was carried out as a pilot study among 30 health care workers who are doing night shift. To assess QoL, World Health Organization Quality of Life Questionnaire was used and assessment of other symptoms was done based on Classical Nidra Vegadharana (Holding of sleep Urge) Symptoms. Result: Domain wise QoL showed that maximum 60% had intermediate physical QoL, maximum 73.3% had intermediate psychological QoL, maximum 60.6% had very weak social QoL and maximum 70% had intermediate environmental QoL. No one has good score of physical and psychological QoL and only 10% and 6.66% had good social and environment QoL respectively. Conclusion: In this pilot study maximum night shift health workers had very weak, weak, or intermediate QoL so it can be concluded that Night shift has an impact on the health status of health care workers.