title: A comparison of a 12-hour and eight-hour shift system.
abstract: Despite the increasing use of, and discussion about, 12-hour shifts there has been little assessment of its impact in the UK. A study was carried out to compare two medical wards that had been operating a 12-hour shift for more than one year with two medical wards that had continued with a conventional shift system over the same period. Staff questionnaires and interviews, patient interviews, documentation review and analysis of a number of organisational issues were undertaken to evaluate the effect of the shift pattern worked. There were no significant differences between the shift patterns. However, some aspects of the 12-hour shift produced more favourable responses from the staff: less fatigue was reported by those working the 12-hour shift and documentation was more complete on these wards. However, the length of time available for the handover was identified as a problematic area. This work demonstrates the complexities in evaluating patterns of work.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gillespie
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Curzio
mesh_terms: D000041:Absenteeism; D006801:Humans; D015401:Nursing Administration Research; D009741:Nursing Staff, Hospital / Q000600:supply & distribution*; D010561:Personnel Staffing and Scheduling / Q000458:organization & administration*; D011787:Quality of Health Care; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors; D014940:Work Schedule Tolerance