Health and performance factors in health care shift workers.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the impact of shift work on health care workers.


METHODS
A cross-sectional study assessed health and performance markers of 188 day and night shift nonphysician health care workers.


RESULTS
Night-shift workers were more likely to report difficulty with routine orders, lower energy levels, unpredictable work schedules, and sleep disturbance but no difference with injuries or motor vehicle crashes. A classification of day shift, night shift without unpredictable schedule or sleep problems, and night shift with unpredictable schedule or sleep problems revealed a trend of increased difficulty with routine orders, suggesting a "dose response effect."


CONCLUSIONS
Findings suggest an association with night shift health care workers and adverse health and performance markers. A "higher-risk" subgroup may benefit from targeted interventions to reduce potential adverse effects from shift work and improve health care delivery.
DeMoss
Catherine
C
The HealthPartners Institute of Medical Education, Midwest Center of Occupational Health and Safety Occupational and Environmental Medicine Residency Program, Regions Hospital, 640 Jackson Street, St. Paul, MN 55101, USA.
McGrail
Michael
M
Haus
Erhard
E
Crain
A Lauren
AL
Asche
Stephen E
SE
D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D015146:Midwestern United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009741:Nursing Staff, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012307:Risk Factors; D020178:Sleep Disorders, Circadian Rhythm / Q000453:epidemiology*; D013647:Task Performance and Analysis; D014940:Work Schedule Tolerance