Subjective and objective measures of adaptation and readaptation to night work on an oil rig in the North Sea.
OBJECTIVE
To study the adaptation and readaptation processes to 1 week of night work (6:30 PM to 6:30 AM) followed by 1 week of day work (6:30 AM to 6:30 PM).


METHODS
Part of a randomized, placebo-controlled, crossover field study. Here, data from the placebo arm are presented.


METHODS
Oil rig in the North Sea. Work schedule: 2 weeks on a 12-hour shift, with the first week on the night shift and the second week on the day shift.


METHODS
Subjects complaining about problems with adjusting to shift work. Seventeen workers completed the study.


METHODS
N/A.


METHODS
Subjective and objective measures of sleepiness (Karolinska Sleepiness Scale and simple serial reaction time test) and sleep (diary and actigraphy).


RESULTS
Both subjective and objective measures improved gradually during night work. The return to day work after 1 week on the night shift led to a clear increase in subjective sleepiness and worsening of sleep parameters. During the week on the day shift, sleepiness and sleep gradually improved, similar to the improvement seen during night work. The workers indicated that the day shift was worse than the night shift on some of the measures, e.g., sleep length was significantly longer during the night-shift period.


CONCLUSIONS
This is one of few studies showing how shift workers in a real-life setting adjust to night work. Both subjective and objective sleepiness and subjective sleep improved across days. The effects were especially pronounced for the subjective data.
Bjorvatn
Bjørn
B
Department of Public Health and Primary Health Care, University of Bergen, Norway. bjorn.bjorvatn@isf.uib.no
Stangenes
Kristine
K
Oyane
Nicolas
N
Forberg
Knut
K
Lowden
Arne
A
Holsten
Fred
F
Akerstedt
Torbjørn
T
D000222:Adaptation, Physiological; D000328:Adult; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D006970:Disorders of Excessive Somnolence / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008550:Melatonin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009659:North Sea; D010578:Petroleum; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000502:physiology; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D020178:Sleep Disorders, Circadian Rhythm / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology
D000975:Antioxidants; D010578:Petroleum; D008550:Melatonin