title: No difference in self reported health among coalminers in two different shift schedules at Spitsbergen, Norway, a two years follow-up.
abstract: This study was performed among coal miners in the remote location Svea, Spitsbergen. The shift schedule used to be 7 d on and 7 d off. The aim of this study was to investigate possible changes in health after a voluntary implementation of a new shift schedule, with periods of 14 d on and 14 d off, for 74 percent of the workers in 2007. A questionnaire was distributed to all employees before and two times after the new shift schedule, comprising questions on type of work, shift schedule, pain, sleep, stress and coping. Ninety nine percent of the employees responded; 274 in 2006, 307 in 2007 and 312 in 2008. Work neither in the 14/14 shift nor 7/7 shift was related to any change in the health after these two years. The coping index for workers in the 14/14 shift improved.
authors.affiliation: Occupational Health Services of Svalbard, Norway.
authors.forename: Rolf
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hanoa
authors.forename: Valborg
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Baste
authors.forename: Arne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kooij
authors.forename: Linda
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Sommervold
authors.forename: Bente Elisabeth
authors.initials: BE
authors.lastname: Moen
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D003032:Coal Mining; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009664:Norway / Q000453:epidemiology; D016272:Occupational Health; D010146:Pain / Q000453:epidemiology; D010561:Personnel Staffing and Scheduling; D012890:Sleep; D020178:Sleep Disorders, Circadian Rhythm / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012894:Sleep Stages; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000453:epidemiology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires