Shift-related sleep problems vary according to work schedule.
OBJECTIVE
Shift-related sleep and sleepiness problems may be due to characteristics of both shifts (ie, day, evening and night shifts) and work schedules (ie, permanent vs rotational schedules). The Bergen Shift Work Sleep Questionnaire (BSWSQ) was used to investigate associations between shift-related sleep problems and work schedules.


METHODS
1586 nurses completed the BSWSQ. Participants who, in relation to a shift, 'often' or 'always' experienced both a sleep problem and a tiredness/sleepiness problem were defined as having shift-related insomnia (separate for day, evening and night shifts and rest-days). Logistic regression analyses were conducted for day, evening, night, and rest-day insomnia with participants on both permanent and rotational schedules.


RESULTS
Shift-related insomnia differed between the work schedules. The evening shift insomnia was more prevalent in the two-shift rotation schedule than the three-shift rotation schedule (29.8% and 19.8%, respectively). Night shift insomnia showed higher frequencies among three-shift rotation workers compared with permanent night workers (67.7% and 41.7%, respectively). Rest-day insomnia was more prevalent among permanent night workers compared with two- and three-shift rotations (11.4% compared with 4.2% and 3.6%, respectively).


CONCLUSIONS
The prevalences of shift-related insomnia differed between the work schedules with higher frequencies for three-shift rotations and night shifts. However, sleep problems were present in all shifts and schedules. This suggests that both shifts and work schedules should be considered in the study of shift work-related sleep problems.
Norwegian Competence Center for Sleep Disorders, Haukeland Universitetssjukehus, Jonas Lies vei 65, Bergen 5021, Norway. elisabeth.flo@psykp.uib.no
Elisabeth
E
Flo
Ståle
S
Pallesen
Torbjørn
T
Åkerstedt
Nils
N
Magerøy
Bente Elisabeth
BE
Moen
Janne
J
Grønli
Inger Hilde
IH
Nordhus
Bjørn
B
Bjorvatn
D000328:Adult; D002940:Circadian Rhythm; D005221:Fatigue / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D009726:Nurses; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000209:etiology*; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D012146:Rest; D020178:Sleep Disorders, Circadian Rhythm / Q000209:etiology*; D007319:Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders / Q000209:etiology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014940:Work Schedule Tolerance