Shift work-related problems in 16-h night shift nurses (2): Effects on subjective symptoms, physical activity, heart rate, and sleep.

We compared the shift work-related problems between 16-h night shift and 8-h evening/ night shifts among nurses in a university hospital with respect to subjective symptoms, physical activity, heart rate (HR), and sleep. The nurses of one group (n=20) worked a 16-h night shift under a rotating two-shift system, while those of the other group (n=20) worked an 8-h evening or night shift under a rotating three-shift system. The 16-h night shift was staffed by three or four nurses who alternately took a 2-h nap during the shift, and had at least one day off after each shift. Subjective symptoms and daily behavior were measured every 30 min by the nurses before, during, after each shift as well as during days off using a time-budget method. Also, physical activity, heart rate (HR), and posture were recorded during shifts. The results showed similar or lower levels of sleepiness, difficulty in concentration, fatigue, physical activity, and HR during the 16-h shift compared to the 8-h shifts. No differences in subjective symptoms between the two shift schedules were observed before or after the shifts or during days off. The main sleep was longer after the shifts and during days off in the 16-h shift group than in the 8-h shift group. Our results suggest that the work-related problems in 16-h night shift nurses may not be excessively greater than those in 8-h evening/night shift nurses, as long as appropriate countermeasures are taken during and after the extended shift.