Shift Work Experience Research Articles

Relationship of shift work with liver enzyme abnormalities and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease: A retrospective cohort study of Thai workers in Bangkok, Thailand

Shift work, particularly night shift work, has several detrimental health outcomes. This retrospective study investigated the associations of shift work with the incidence rates of liver enzyme abnormalities and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) using the annual health check-up database between 2009 and 2016 and self-administered questionnaires from two large organizations in Thailand. Among 10,205 participants, 3620 eligible participants, classified into three subgroups by their shift work status, were followed up until abnormal liver outcomes were observed. The incidence rate of abnormal outcomes was calculated, and Cox proportional hazard models were used to assess the associations. Current shift work was not associated with abnormal liver outcomes, including elevated alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase levels, elevated lipid accumulation product (e-LAP), and elevated hepatic steatosis index (e-HSI). However, when the frequencies and duration of shift work were investigated, the duration of shift work was associated with NAFLD outcomes. Healthcare personnel with 10–20 years of shift work experience had a higher risk of e-LAP (adjusted hazard ratio [HR] = 1.31, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.04–1.65), while workers with more than 20 years of shift work had a lower risk of e-LAP (adjusted HR = 0.77, 95% CI–0.62–0.97). Nonhealthcare shift workers with fewer than 10 years of work exposure had a higher risk of e-HSI (adjusted HR = 4.30, 95% CI = 1.28–14.47). In summary, the shift work status was not associated with liver abnormalities, but the duration of shift work was associated with NAFLD.

Moral Resilience Reduces Levels of Quiet Quitting, Job Burnout, and Turnover Intention among Nurses: Evidence in the Post COVID-19 Era.

The aim of the study was to examine the impact of moral resilience on quiet quitting, job burnout, and turnover intention among nurses. A cross-sectional study was implemented in Greece in November 2023. The revised Rushton Moral Resilience Scale was used to measure moral resilience among nurses, the Quiet Quitting Scale to measure levels of quiet quitting, and the single-item burnout measure to measure job burnout. Moreover, a valid six-point Likert scale was used to measure turnover intention. All multivariable models were adjusted for the following confounders: gender, age, understaffed department, shift work, and work experience. The multivariable analysis identified a negative relationship between moral resilience and quiet quitting, job burnout, and turnover intention. In particular, we found that increased response to moral adversity and increased moral efficacy were associated with decreased detachment score, lack of initiative score, and lack of motivation score. Additionally, personal integrity was associated with reduced detachment score, while relational integrity was associated with reduced detachment score, and lack of initiative score. Moreover, response to moral adversity was associated with reduced job burnout. Also, increased levels of response to moral adversity were associated with lower probability of turnover intention. Moral resilience can be an essential protective factor against high levels of quiet quitting, job burnout, and turnover intention among nurses. This study was not registered.

The effect of shift work on body mass index: A systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies.

Shift work involves working outside the standard working hours of 9 am to 5 pm Monday to Friday and may include working evening, night, weekend, or rotating shift patterns. Since shift workers sleep less and their circadian rhythms are disrupted, they are reported to have higher body weight than day workers. This meta-analysis aims to determine whether shift workers (SW) are more prone to higher body mass index (BMI) than their day workers (DW) counterparts. It also addresses the question of whether the duration of shift work exposure, sex, or occupational type affect BMI value. Four databases that is PubMed, EBSCO Host, Scopus, and Web of Science were searched for reports published up to October 2023. Sixty-three studies involving a total of 693 449 participants met our inclusion criteria. Meta-analyses showed a significant effect of shift work on BMI value (standard mean difference; SMD: 0.10 kg/m2 [95% confidence interval; 95% CI: 0.07; 0.13; p < .001]) as compared with non-shift counterparts. Subgroup analysis revealed that shift work significantly increased BMI for studies where male working on this job schedule (SMD: 0.10 kg/m2 [95% CI: 0.04; 0.17; p = .0018]) for studies where shift workers worked ≥13 years (calculated as the median of shift work experience; SMD: 0.14 kg/m2 [95% CI: 0.10; 0.18; p < .001]) as well as for studies where industrial (SMD: 0.12 kg/m2 [95% CI: 0.05; 0.19; p = .0012]) and other type of occupations were dominated (0.12 kg/m2 [95% CI: 0.07; 0.16; p < .001]). We found that in general working on a shift schedule increases BMI as compared with day workers, especially in case of male employed in this job schedule, for shift workers working for long periods of time (≥13 years), and for shift workers employed in industry and other type of occupations(e.g., airline workers, firefighters, police officers, blue collar, security personnel, bus drivers, garbage collectors, railway workers, postal, oil and gas workers).

Effect of shift work on excessive daytime sleepiness in female nurses: results from the Japan Nurses' Health Study.

We investigated the relationship between shift work and excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS) among participants in the Japan Nurses' Health Study (JNHS). Responses of 9,728 female nurses to the 6th follow-up questionnaire were cross-sectionally analyzed. EDS was defined as an Epworth Sleepiness Scale score ≥11. EDS-associated factors were evaluated using Poisson regression analysis after adjustment for multiple confounders. Of the participants (mean age, 52.2 ± 8.0 yr), 28.7% were engaged in shift work, and the overall prevalence of EDS was 24.6%. EDS-associated factors were investigated separately in women aged <40 yr (n=250), 40-59 yr (n=7,467), and ≥60 yr (n=2,011). Current engagement in shift work (prevalence ratio: 1.92 [95% confidence interval: 1.20-3.06], compared with no experience of shift work) and obesity (2.08 [1.11-3.88] for BMI ≥30 and 1.39 [1.02-1.90] for BMI of 25.0-30.0, compared with BMI of 18.5-25.0) showed an independent association with EDS in women aged ≥60 yr. The effect of shift work on EDS in female nurses differed by age, as shift work and obesity contributed to EDS only in older participants. Shift work should be assigned after full consideration of age, sleep, and health status to minimize medical errors.

Exploring the prioritisation of sleep, diet, and physical activity as pillars of health: correlates and associations with health behaviours in Australian adults

BackgroundChronic disease is the leading cause of death globally. Sleep, diet, and physical activity are modifiable health behaviours that are key for reducing the burden of chronic disease. These health behaviours are collectively termed ‘The 3 Pillars of Health’ and are critical for populations who are at risk of poor health. Shiftworkers are one such at-risk population. To target behavioural change it is critical to first understand which of these health behaviours Australians currently prioritise. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate how Australians (including shift workers) prioritise sleep, physical activity, and diet, and examine the associations with correlates of health behaviours.MethodsTwo cohorts of Australian adults were sampled. A cohort of 1151 Australian adults (54% female, aged 18–65 years) including employed (in any work schedule), unemployed, studying, and retired completed a phone interview. A cohort of 533 Australian shiftwork-only adults (76% female, 18–72) completed an online survey. All participants were asked which health behaviour (sleep, physical activity, or diet) they prioritised in their own life. Behavioural correlates of sleep, diet, and physical activity (sleep duration, frequency of moderate to physical activity, healthy dietary behaviour), and years of shiftwork experience were also collected. Multinomial logistic regressions were used to investigate the association between the highest prioritised pillar of health and the behavioural correlates.ResultsDiet was prioritised by the Australian adults (49%), whereas sleep was prioritised by the shiftwork-only sample (68%). Australian adults who prioritised diet were significantly more likely to report diets with less fast-food consumption (p < 0.002) and more fruit consumption (p < 0.002) compared to those that prioritised sleep. For the shiftwork-only sample, those with 16–30 years of shiftwork experience were significantly more likely to prioritise sleep compared to diet (p < 0.05). However, prioritising sleep was not associated with meeting the sleep duration recommendations in the shiftwork-only sample.ConclusionsAcross two cohorts of Australians, prioritisation of health behaviour was only associated with actual behaviour for diet. This may reflect different motivations for prioritising different health behaviours, in addition to different capabilities to change different health behaviours. Future research should include longitudinal methodologies to understand how behaviour prioritisation changes over work- and life-span, and any associations with actual health behaviour.

P090 How do Australian Shiftworkers and Non-Shiftworkers Prioritise Sleep, Diet, and Physical activity?

Abstract Background Increasing engagement with sleep, diet, and physical activity (PA) is critical for populations who are at higher risk of poor health, such as shiftworkers. To increase engagement in sleep, diet and PA, it is critical to first understand which of these behaviours Australians currently prioritise and whether this prioritisation relates to actual behaviour. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate how Australians prioritise sleep, diet and PA. Methods A cohort of 1151 Australian adults (54% female, aged 18-65 years) completed a phone interview, and a cohort of 588 Australian shiftwork-only adults (76% female, 18-72 years) completed an online survey. All participants were asked which health behaviour (sleep, diet or PA) they prioritised. Behavioural correlates of sleep, diet, and PA, and questions on shiftwork experience were also collected. Results Diet was prioritised by the adults (49%), whereas sleep was prioritised by the shiftwork-only sample (68%). Multinomial logistic regressions revealed that adults who prioritised diet were significantly more likely to report less fast-food consumption (p&amp;lt;0.002) and more fruit consumption (p&amp;lt;0.002) compared to those that prioritised sleep. For the shiftwork-only sample, those with 16-30 years of shiftwork experience were significantly more likely to prioritise sleep compared to diet (p&amp;lt;0.05). Conclusions While prioritising diet was associated with healthier diet behaviour in Australian adults, overall, across both cohorts, behaviour prioritisation did not relate to actual behaviour. This suggests that there are factors other than behaviour prioritisation that influence engagement in healthy behaviours. These factors, such as workplace barriers, should be the focus of future research.

The Development and Validation of the Health Belief Model for Shift Workers (HBM-SW) Scale

ABSTRACT Objective Shift work is associated with circadian misalignment, sleep loss, and suboptimal health behaviors, which may contribute to longer term negative health outcomes. To inform future interventions for shift workers, the present study aimed to develop and evaluate the Health Belief Model for Shift Workers (HBM-SW) scale. Methods The HBM-SW development involved a seven-step process, including a literature review, expert panel analysis, cognitive interviews with shift workers, and a trial with a pilot sample of shift workers (n = 153). Utilizing exploratory factor analysis for factor identification and item reduction, the developed scale loaded on seven factors in line with the theoretical framework of the Health Belief Model: Perceived Threat, Perceived Severity, Perceived Benefits, Perceived Barriers, Cues to Action, Self-efficacy, and Health Motivation. Validation of the scale was conducted utilizing Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, International Physical Activity Questionnaire, and Food Frequency Questionnaire. Results The pilot sample had an average age of 34.0 (18.0) years, was majority female (54.2%), with an average of 8.0 (11.0) years shift work experience. The HBM-SW showed good – excellent (α = 0.74–0.93) internal consistency and moderate – good (ICC = 0.64–0.89) test re-test reliability. Using health behavior outcome measures, the HBM-SW scale showed meaningful correlations with sleep quality, sleep duration, diet quality and leisure time physical activity, and acceptable validity and reliability. Further testing should be conducted in a larger sample to facilitate confirmatory factor analysis. Conclusions The developed Health Belief Model for Shift Workers scale is likely beneficial for use in future studies of interventions for shift workers.

Association between night shift work and NAFLD: a prospective analysis of 281,280 UK Biobank participants

ContextThis study aimed to investigate the association between night shift work and the risk of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).MethodsWe conducted a prospective analysis of 281,280 UK Biobank participants. Cox proportional hazards models were used to estimate the association of night shift work with incident NAFLD. Polygenic risk score analyses were performed to assess whether a genetic predisposition to NAFLD modified the association.ResultsDuring a median follow-up of 12.1 years (3,373,964 person-years), 2,555 incident NAFLD cases were identified. Compared with workers who never/rarely worked night shifts, those who worked some night shifts or usual/permanent night shifts were 1.12 (95% CI: 0.96–1.31) and 1.27 (95% CI: 1.08–1.48) times more likely to develop NAFLD, respectively. Among the 75,059 participants who had reports on lifetime experience of night shift work, those with a longer duration, a higher frequency, more consecutive night shifts and a longer length per shift all showed higher risks of incident NAFLD. Further analyses showed that the association between night shift work and incident NAFLD was not modified by a genetic predisposition to NAFLD.ConclusionsNight shift work was associated with increased risks of incident NAFLD.

The impact of shift work and sleep deficiency on health

Shift work refers to work that takes place at different hours, including at night. It is estimated that 15% to 20% of the working population works in shift work, particularly in the healthcare, energy, communication systems, public safety, and hospitality industries. Research indicates that shift work, particularly night work, can lead to health problems such as fatigue, exposure to harmful work environments, increased risk of workplace accidents, and sleep disorders. Night work is also associated with increased risk of hypertension, nervous system dysfunction, cardiovascular dysfunction. Those working at night are also more prone to hormonal disorders, digestive disorders, lowered immunity, and cancer. Sleep-wake cycle disorders, such as excessive sleepiness during waking hours and insomnia at night, are symptoms of shift work intolerance syndrome, which can occur after several months or years of shift work. It is estimated that over 20% of shift workers suffer from sleep-wake cycle disorders, and various factors such as chronotype, age, gender, family and social obligations, medications, medical and psychiatric conditions, and shift work experience can impact tolerance of shift work. The treatment of sleep and wake disorders related to shift work includes planning for main sleep and supplementary naps, appropriate exposure to light, treatment with melatonin, taking sleeping and psychostimulant medications.

The influence of COVID-19-related resilience on depression, job stress, sleep quality, and burnout among intensive care unit nurses.

The COVID-19 pandemic has placed immense pressure on healthcare workers, in particular, Intensive Care Unit (ICU) nurses, who are at the forefront of managing critically ill COVID-19 patients. This has led to increased stressors and workload, which are associated with negative mental health outcomes such as depression, job stress, sleep disturbances, and burnout. However, COVID-19-related resilience may have mitigated these negative effects. ICU nurses with higher levels of COVID-19-related resilience may be better equipped to manage the stress and job demands during the pandemic, leading to improved mental health outcomes. Therefore, this study aimed to comprehensively explore the factors influencing the resilience of ICU nurses and provide baseline knowledge for future studies to develop interventions that promote COVID-19-related resilience. With shift work and COVID-19 experience with adult patients from hospitals across three regions of South Korea. The questionnaire included scales/measures of nurses' depression, job stress, sleep quality, and burnout. Results confirmed that resilience was negatively correlated with depression and burnout, and that ICU nurses' relative levels of resilience strongly influenced their experience of burnout. The findings of this study make a significant contribution to the literature because they focus on resilience, specifically in the context of ICU nursing in South Korea, which has become more challenging and demanding due to the pandemic.

Brain Age Prediction based on Sleep EEG in Shift Workers (P1-13.003)

<h3>Objective:</h3> Sleep architecture and microstructures alter with aging. This study was to investigate the association between a sleep EEG-based brain age index (BAI), predicted brain age minus chronological age, and shift work. <h3>Background:</h3> Shift work is associated with numerous negative health consequences, and BAI might reflect an individual’s brain health. <h3>Design/Methods:</h3> We have developed a deep learning technique to estimate brain aging from EEG from sleep polysomnogram by using DenseNet to train the brain age prediction model with a six-channel sleep EEG. To allow for EEG-BAI to capture brain aging more accurately, we have taken advantage of a BIG-DATA-driven machine learning approach with 4,215 sleep EEG. Then, we enrolled 12h-shift female nurses working at one university-affiliated hospital (n=37, mean age 28.9 y, shift work duration 5.4 y). Daytime sleep study in laboratory were adjusted to the habitual sleep hour after completing the 1st 12h-night shift and eating breakfast. They were clustered based on EEG-BAI and shift working period. We used K-means clustering method to divide into two groups. The group with low BAI group was defined as the good resilience group (GR), and the group with high BAI group was defined as the poor resilience group (PR). <h3>Results:</h3> Of the total nurses, 26 were classified into the GR and 11 into the PR. Compared with the PR, GR started shift work at younger age (22.4 vs. 24.1 y, p&lt;0.001), had more shift work experience (6.5 vs. 2.9 y, p&lt;0.005), younger chronological age (27.4 vs. 29.6 y, p&lt;0.005), and lower BAI (−0.4 vs. 1.0, p&lt;0.001). <h3>Conclusions:</h3> Our results demonstrate that the EEG-BAI can be a biomarker reflecting brain health for shift workers. To adjust well to shift work, it is recommended to start shift work at a young age. <b>Disclosure:</b> Ms. Choi has nothing to disclose. Dr. Yook has nothing to disclose. Hea Ree Park has nothing to disclose. Prof. Kim has nothing to disclose. Dr. Joo has nothing to disclose.

Pregnant nurses' experiences of working shifts: a qualitative systematic review protocol.

The proposed systematic review will synthesize the experiences of nurses working in any shifts during pregnancy. Nurses are among the most burdened health care workers and are at risk of diseases of the circulatory system due to prolonged standing. For pregnant nurses, this could reduce blood circulation and blood flow to the uterus and placenta. Contributing factors include long working hours and frequent heavy lifting, which may induce uterine contractions and premature birth; irregular shifts, which exacerbate fatigue; and high levels of psychosocial stress. There is no qualitative evidence as to what nurses are experiencing while working shifts when pregnant. This review will evaluate and integrate the current available findings related to the experience of shift-working nurses who are pregnant. This review will include qualitative studies focusing on the experience of shift work among pregnant nurses. No language or date limits will be applied. All types of pregnancy among nurses will be included. The databases to be searched will include CINAHL (EBSCOhost), MEDLINE (EBSCOhost), PsycINFO (EBSCOhost), and Igaku Chuo Zasshi (the Japan Medical Abstracts Society). Sources of gray literature will include MedNar and DANS, as well as the websites of the American Nurses Association and the Japanese Nursing Association. Study selection, critical appraisal, data extraction, and data synthesis will be performed independently by 2 reviewers. The synthesized findings will be graded according to the ConQual approach for establishing confidence in findings. PROSPERO CRD42022309674.

Associations of chronotype and insomnia with menstrual problems in newly employed nurses at university hospitals in the Republic of Korea.

Dysmenorrhea and menstrual cycle changes occur in women working shifts. Circadian rhythm disruption and sleep disturbances associated with shift work leads to health problems. We identified chronotypes and the occurrence of insomnia among newly employed university hospital nurses and investigated the association of these factors with menstrual problems. We conducted pre-placement health examinations for shift workers using self-reported questionnaires between 2018 and 2020. A total of 463 nurses were included in the study. Sociodemographic data, shift work experience, and information on insomnia were collected from health examination data. In addition, details regarding chronotype, dysmenorrhea, irregular and abnormal menstrual cycles, amenorrhea, and contraceptive use were obtained from the questionnaire. Multiple logistic regression analysis was performed to study the association between chronotype, insomnia, and menstrual problems after controlling for age, body mass index, contraceptive use, amenorrhea, and prior shift work. The prevalence rates of dysmenorrhea, irregular menstrual cycles, and longer menstrual cycles were 23.8%, 14.9%, and 4.1%, respectively. The risk of dysmenorrhea increased in the evening-type (odds ratio [OR]: 3.209; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.685-6.113) and those with insomnia (OR: 1.871; 95% CI: 1.074-3.261). Additionally, the risk of an irregular menstrual cycle (OR: 2.698; 95% CI: 1.167-6.237) increased in the evening-type, and the risk of a longer menstrual cycle (OR: 4.008; 95% CI: 1.354-11.864) increased in individuals with insomnia. Our findings suggest that dysmenorrhea is promoted in the evening-type and insomnia individuals. There may be an increased risk of irregular menstrual cycles among evening-type nurses and an increased risk of longer menstrual cycles among those with insomnia. Therefore, factors such as evening-type and insomnia should be considered for the prevention of menstrual problems in women performing shift work.

P130 The lived experience of shift work, sleep loss and fatigue in Australian paramedics

Abstract Introduction Paramedics are essential health workers, and are regularly exposed to shift work, which negatively impacts sleep and fatigue. Paramedics also experience adverse mental health outcomes and sleep disorders at higher rates than the general population. Consequently, retention and occupational burnout issues are common. However, the relationship between shift work, sleep disorders, fatigue, and mental wellbeing in paramedics is poorly understood, limiting our ability to design and implement effective interventions. Method This study uses a qualitative action research design involving one-to-one interviews, with an intended sample of 30 paramedics (completion Aug 2022). The Scenario Invention Task Technique is used, requiring workers to explore how they engage and interact with their work. Participants generate challenging scenarios specific to their work when feeling rested, and then consider the same scenario when feeling extremely fatigued. Data are analysed using an inductive thematic structure. Results Analysis of preliminary data (n=10) indicates sleep loss and fatigue negatively impact workers’ ability to manage challenging scenarios and the self-regulation of emotions. While participants know sleep problems impact their wellbeing, limited knowledge on identification and management of sleep disorders is apparent. Early findings suggest an optimal window for better sleep education would be during internship, and paramedics suggest the information needs to be provided by an expert, and trusted, voice. Discussion Study findings will help inform sleep education, screening and support toolkits about sleep, fatigue and shift work tailored to paramedics in order to support wellbeing and sustainable careers.

Effects of One Night of Forced Wakefulness on Morning Resting Blood Pressure in Humans: The Role of Biological Sex and Weight Status.

Permanent night shift work is associated with adverse health effects, including elevated blood pressure (BP) and hypertension. Here, we examined the BP response to one night of forced wakefulness in a sitting position in a cohort without night shift work experience. According to a counterbalanced crossover design, 47 young adults with either obesity (N = 22; 10 women) or normal weight (N = 25; 11 women) participated in one night of sleep and one night of forced wakefulness under in-laboratory conditions. Resting ankle and brachial arterial BP were assessed in the morning, i.e., the time of the day when adverse cardiovascular events peak. After forced wakefulness, diastolic and mean arterial BP were ~4 mmHg higher at the ankle site and ~3 mmHg higher at the brachial site than after regular sleep (p < 0.05). The increase in BP following overnight forced wakefulness was more pronounced among men vs. women and more significant for diastolic BP at both sites among participants with normal weight vs. those with obesity. If confirmed in larger cohorts, including 24 h BP monitoring, people with occupations involving night shifts might benefit from regular BP monitoring. Particular attention should be paid to possible sex- and weight-specific effects of night shift work on BP.

An assessment of psychosocial and health risks associated with shift work in a South African manufacturing context

Shift work is a necessity to ensure continuous and optimized operations in different occupational scenarios. However, there are numerous adverse effects associated with working shifts. This study is aimed at evaluating the psychosocial and health risks associated with working shifts in a manufacturing context in South Africa (SA). A cross sectional design using a modified form of the validated Standard Shift Work Index (SSI) questionnaire was used to collect quantitative data. Most participants were considered to be in good health, however they reported health complaints relating to swollen feet, weight gain, loss of appetite and gastrointestinal disorders. In addition, participants reported that their domestic lives were somewhat affected (45%) and their social lives were adversely affected (47%) by working shifts. Shift work experience (11 to 20 years) was also found to be significantly associated with more time for both social (OR = 0.10; 95% CI = 0.03; 0.30) and domestic activities (OR= 0.25; 95% CI = 0.11; 0.57; p &lt; 0.05) compared to those with less experience. This may be attributed to the healthy worker survivor effect; it is likely that shift workers with longer working experience have developed practical coping strategies to mitigate some of the problems related to shift work.&#x0D; Keywords: Shift work; health effects; psychosocial effects; disorders

Оценка психосоциальных факторов риска лесозаготовителей при вахтовой организации труда (на примере Архангельской области)

The work is devoted to the identification and description of key psychosocial risk factors and characteristics of the environmental resource of shift workers at a logging enterprise in the Arkhangelsk region. The research was carried out by means of a scientific expedition in 2021 at the logging sites of the Arkhangelsk region. 106 employees took part in it (average age 38.3 ± 0.88 years, average shift work experience 6.5 ± 0.76 years, shift period of 14 days). Research methods: hardware psychophysiological methodology of assessing the state on the device Psychophysiologist (the level of functional state and functional reserves); psychological testing methodology (M. Lusher color test); questionnaire using the author questionnaire and the general questionnaire of psychosocial factors at work QPS Nordic. Statistical analysis was carried out using descriptive statistics and correlation analysis with the help of SPSS 23.00 software package. As a result of the research, it was revealed that during the shift period there is a positive dynamic of the logger functional states; the beginning and middle (shift change days) of the shift period are characterized by an acceptable state and require additional measures to restore it. Statistically significant correlations are established between the level of functional capabilities, stress, and performance with the key blocks of psychosocial factors: social support from colleagues, management, relatives, and friends; working motives for developing oneself and applying creativity in work, the complexity and interest of the work performed. These factors contribute to maintaining the required level of functional states and increase the psychological safety of the work of the logging enterprise personnel.

Multimodal investigation of the association between shift work and the brain in a population-based sample of older adults

Neuropsychological studies reported that shift workers show reduced cognitive performance and circadian dysfunctions which may impact structural and functional brain networks. Here we tested the hypothesis whether night shift work is associated with resting-state functional connectivity (RSFC), cortical thickness and gray matter volume in participants of the 1000BRAINS study for whom information on night shift work and imaging data were available. 13 PRESENT and 89 FORMER night shift workers as well as 430 control participants who had never worked in shift (NEVER) met these criteria and were included in our study. No associations between night shift work, three graph-theoretical measures of RSFC of 7 functional brain networks and brain morphology were found after multiple comparison correction. Preceding multiple comparison correction, our results hinted at an association between more years of shift work and higher segregation of the visual network in PRESENT shift workers and between shift work experience and lower gray matter volume of the left thalamus. Extensive neuropsychological investigations supplementing objective imaging methodology did not reveal an association between night shift work and cognition after multiple comparison correction. Our pilot study suggests that night shift work does not elicit general alterations in brain networks and affects the brain only to a limited extent. These results now need to be corroborated in studies with larger numbers of participants.

Lifestyle and Its Effective Factors in Nurses with Covid-19.

Introduction & ObjectiveLifestyle is one of the most important factors affecting health. Nurses, as health promoters, are at the forefront of the fight against Covid-19 disease; thus, they are at risk of the disease and its subsequent problems. The present study aimed to determine the lifestyle and influential factors among nurses with Covid-19.MethodsThis is a cross-sectional study performed on 250 nurses with Covid-19, working in hospitals affiliated with Tehran University of Medical Sciences in 2021. Samples were first selected by multi-stage random sampling method. Then, they were classified into clusters using purposive sampling method based on inclusion criteria. The data were collected using a demographic questionnaire and a cross-culturally adapted nurses’ lifestyle questionnaire. Then, the data analysis was performed using descriptive and inferential statistical tests in SPSS ver. 25. Eventually, p-value < .05 was considered as the significant level.ResultsThe mean score of nurses’ lifestyle was 4.06 ± 0.39. The highest scores of lifestyle subscales include competency (4.69 ± 0.30), systematic interactions (4.66 ± 0.35), responsibility (4.086 ± 0.55), role management and work system (3.68 ± 0.52), management of individual life (3.49 ± 0.68), and interactions (3.34 ± 0.44), respectively. The findings of the linear regression statistical test showed that sex, marriage, work shift, and work experience have significant predictive power for the overall lifestyle, respectively.ConclusionNurses with Covid-19have an acceptable lifestyle level. Factors such as sex, marriage, shift work, and work experience affect the lifestyle of nurses with Covid-19. Accordingly, planning is necessary to improve the lifestyle of nurses and the factors affecting it during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Sleep, sleepiness and need for recovery of industrial employees after a change from an 8- to a 12-hour shift system.

Employees often prefer 12-hour work shifts but they can increase sleepiness and injury risk. We assessed whether sleep, sleepiness, satisfaction and need for recovery changed after changing from an 8-hour to a 12-hour shift system. The participants were 178 employees of the paper, pulp and chemical industries. Using a quasi-experimental controlled intervention design, 83 employees, who changed from an 8-hour shift schedule to a 12-hour shift schedule were compared to those who remained in the 8-hour shift schedule (n=95). Participants filled in a survey on sleep, sleepiness, satisfaction and need for recovery at baseline and 9–12 months after the shift schedule change. We used generalized estimation equation models adjusted for age, sex, shift work experience in years and baseline shift system. Sleep length was longer in the 12-hour shift schedule before the first morning shift and between morning shifts. Sleepiness during morning shifts was less frequent and satisfaction with the shift system was more prevalent in the 12-hour shift schedule. Also, perceived negative associations of the current shift system with work-life balance were less common in the 12-hour shift schedule. The differences found between the shift systems were minor and the results did not indicate significant disadvantages of the 12-hour fast forward-rotating shift system.