J Sleep Med.  2016 Jun;13(1):8-14. 10.13078/jsm.16002.

Light Exposure and Sleep-Wake Pattern in Rapidly Rotating Shift Nurses

• Choi SJ
• Joo EY

• KMID: 2328844
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.13078/jsm.16002

Abstract

OBJECTIVES
Shift workers are at risk for various sleep and health-related problems. To investigate light exposure and sleep-wake pattern according to shift schedules in shift workers.
METHODS
We enrolled 12 full-time, rapidly rotating three-shift female nurses (age 26.4±4.01 years). They completed sleep logs and actigraphy monitoring of sleep-wake parameters, light exposure, and activity levels for over 14 days (mean numbers of night shifts 2.5).
RESULTS
Before beginning shift work, participants were healthy and had no history of hypnotics. One third of participants (33.3%) had clinically significant insomnia-related symptoms (insomnia severity index ≥15, mean 14.0). Reported health problems were irregular menstruation cycles (75%), nightmares (25%), and irritable bowel syndrome (16.7%). Mean sleep time was less than 6 h regardless of the shift periods and wakefulness after sleep onset was prolonged more than 30 min. Light exposure in night-shift periods was the lowest during working hours and the highest during non-working hours. Activity levels were not different during working hours throughout the schedules.
CONCLUSIONS
Fast-rotating shift nurses sleep less and unsatisfactorily. Health-related problems were frequent in shift nurses. Rapidly rotating shift schedules and related inappropriate light exposure may be detrimental to sleep and health in shift workers.

Keyword

Shift work; Light exposure; Sleep; Health; Actigraphy

MeSH Terms

Actigraphy
Appointments and Schedules
Dreams
Female
Humans
Hypnotics and Sedatives
Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Menstruation
Wakefulness
Hypnotics and Sedatives