Abstract
Prolonged night shift is associated with high burnout rate, but the physiological effects of a 16 h shift remain undetermined. Here we evaluated fatigue and stress via salivary assays to determine the correlation between stress and fatigue and prolonged night shifts. Twenty-five nurses (9 men, 16 women; 16 h night shift (n = 13), 8 h day shift (n = 12)) from Juntendo University Koshigaya Hospital were evaluated for four consecutive workdays separated by off days. Salivary samples were collected upon waking and before sleep on non-working days, before and after the day and night shifts, and before and after the break during the nocturnal schedule, and analyzed for levels of cortisol, chromogranin A, α-amylase activity and secretory immunoglobulin A (sIgA). On non-working days, cortisol levels showed similar kinetic pattern in both nurses. On working days, day-time nurses’ cortisol levels showed normal circadian pattern throughout the shift. Night nurses’ cortisol levels at the beginning of the shift were comparable to that of the normal morning elevation. α-Amylase activity in the night shift nurses was higher than day shift nurses through each period. No significant differences in chromogranin A and sIgA levels were detected between day and night shift workers. A 16 h night shift may cause marked circadian misalignment in cortisol levels.
Highlights
Nurses provide care around the clock in a three-shift system consisting of three 8 h shifts within 24 hours, or in a two-shift system with an 8 h day shift and a 16 h night shift
Measurements of salivary components such as cortisol, chromogranin A, α-amylase activity and secretory immunoglobulin A (sIgA) levels were used to determine the implications of prolonged night shifts on physical health in nurses
Cortisol levels of day and night shift workers are shown in Figure 1 and Figure 2, respectively
Summary
Nurses provide care around the clock in a three-shift system (daytime nighttime late night) consisting of three 8 h shifts within 24 hours, or in a two-shift system with an 8 h day shift and a 16 h night shift. Many reports have confirmed that prolonged night schedule is highly stressful [2] [3] and associated with higher burnout rates [4] [5] and medical errors, but the precise physiological effects of a 16 h shift remain undetermined. The aim of this study was to objectively measure fatigue and stress via salivary assays and determine the correlation between stress and fatigue and prolonged night shifts in order to generate data that would be informative for improving the work hours and well-being of nurses
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
