Vigilance Disorders in Permanent Night Workers: The Case of the Medical Staff

Purpose of the work: To assess the impact of fixed night shift on the vigilance of paramedical staff. Methods: The present study is an exhaustive cross-sectional survey which has been conducted at the University Hospital of Monastir, Tunisia, and it is about 92 care agents working permanently the night. The study of vigilance is based on Epworth scale and Super Lab program. Results: The average age was equal to 42.53 ± 9.45 years with a sex ratio of 1.72. Nurses accounted for 72%. The average score of alertness assessed with Epworth scale was equal to 14.5 ± 6. The use of the Super Lab software has objectified a tendency towards the increase in the average time of reaction of accomplishment of the simple task and the positive cueing task, which was evaluated while starting the shift, during the half time of the work and at the end of the shift. In addition, the average rate of errors evaluated at the beginning, half-time and at the end of the work has increased during 3 tests (simple task, positive and negative cueing tasks) without this difference being statistically significant. Conclusion: The alteration of vigilance with an ascent of the error rate among fixed night shift workers is a reality, which puts in question, not only the health of paramedical staff but also the care safety provided by these teams.