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This study discusses the relationship between perceived stress and emotional eating based on shiftwork in city bus drivers. It was conducted with 1403 male city bus drivers working in Istanbul. Questions about the drivers' physical activity and dietary habits, the Healthy Diet Index (HDI), Emotional Appetite Questionnaire and Perceived Stress Scale-10 data were collected and evaluated in two groups: shift and non-shift employees. It was found that the shift workers (SWs) have lower perceived stress, physical activity, HDI and positive emotional appetite averages. In addition, for SWs, a positive correlation was found between negative emotional appetite scores and physical activity and HDI scores. In conclusion, the drivers working in shifts were found to be slightly overweight and had lower physical activity levels, had lower HDI scores, and their nutritional status was more negatively impacted than their counterparts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The circadian system regulates 24‐h time‐of‐day patterns of cardiovascular physiology, with circadian misalignment resulting in adverse cardiovascular risk. Although many proteins in the coagulation‐fibrinolysis axis show 24‐h time‐of‐day patterns, it is not understood if these temporal patterns are regulated by circadian or behavioral (e.g., sleep and food intake) cycles, or how circadian misalignment influences these patterns. Thus, we utilized a night shiftwork protocol to analyze circadian versus behavioral cycle regulation of 238 plasma proteins linked to cardiovascular physiology. Six healthy men aged 26.2 ± 5.6 years (mean ± SD) completed the protocol involving two baseline days with 8‐h nighttime sleep opportunities (circadian alignment), a transition to shiftwork day, followed by 2 days of simulated night shiftwork with 8‐h daytime sleep opportunities (circadian misalignment). Plasma was collected for proteomics every 4 h across 24 h during baseline and during daytime sleep and the second night shift. Cosinor analyses identified proteins with circadian or behavioral cycle‐regulated 24‐h time‐of‐day patterns. Five proteins were circadian regulated (plasminogen activator inhibitor‐1, angiopoietin‐2, insulin‐like growth factor binding protein‐4, follistatin‐related protein‐3, and endoplasmic reticulum resident protein‐29). No cardiovascular‐related proteins showed regulation by behavioral cycles. Within the coagulation pathway, circadian misalignment decreased tissue factor pathway inhibitor, increased tissue factor, and induced a 24‐h time‐of‐day pattern in coagulation factor VII (all FDR < 0.10). Such changes in protein abundance are consistent with changes observed in hypercoagulable states. Our analyses identify circadian regulation of proteins involved in cardiovascular physiology and indicate that acute circadian misalignment could promote a hypercoagulable state, possibly contributing to elevated cardiovascular disease risk among shift workers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Prolonged sitting is associated with an increased risk of musculoskeletal pain, especially in nightshift workers. However, research investigating effects of breaking up sitting on musculoskeletal pain during nightshifts is lacking. This study evaluated effects of prolonged sitting or breaking up sitting with short bouts of light-intensity physical activity on pain in healthy adults during simulated nightshifts. An in-laboratory randomised controlled trial was undertaken with 52 healthy adults completing five simulated nightshifts. Participants were randomised to prolonged sitting (Sit9; n = 26) or breaking up prolonged sitting (Break9; n = 26). Break9 group completed 3-min walking every 30 min during nightshifts, while Sit9 group remained seated. Musculoskeletal pain intensity and sensory/affective pain experiences were assessed. Linear mixed models examined pain within nights (pre-to post-shift) and across nights (pre-shift-night-1 to pre-shift-night-5). Musculoskeletal pain intensity increased within nights for both Sit9 (mean change [95%CI] points: 0.14 [0.05, 0.24]) and Break9 (0.09 [0.001, 0.19], but not across nights (Sit9: −0.13 [-0.33, 0.08]; Break9: 0.07 [-0.14, 0.29]). Sensory-pain experience improved across nights for Sit9 (−3.08 [-4.72, −1.45]), but not within nights (0.77 [-0.004, 1.55]). There was no change in affective-pain experience in either group. Between-group difference was observed favouring Sit9 for improving sensory-pain across nights (β: 3.71 [1.42, 5.99]). No other between-group difference was observed. Both prolonged sitting and breaking up sitting were associated with a within-night increase in musculoskeletal pain intensity. Compared to prolonged sitting, breaking up sitting did not induce benefits on pain in healthy adults working simulated nightshifts. ACTRN12619001516178. • Prolonged sitting during nightshifts associated with increase in musculoskeletal pain. • Breaking up sitting with 3-min walking every 30 min was insufficient to reduce musculoskeletal pain. • Findings would inform appropriate designs of workplace interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research in HR has devoted little attention to the practice of scheduling shift workers into times and places to conduct their work. Relying upon the growing literature related to relational HR, we propose a relational view of scheduling that focuses on how employees' social contexts—particularly their being co‐scheduled with higher performers—relate to changes in performance over time. We apply resource dependence and social learning theories to describe how employees' performance over time depends upon their working alongside higher performers. Higher performers consume limited resources (thereby constraining peers' performance in the short term), yet also provide instructive role models for learning new skills (thereby elevating peers' performance over the longer term). We further hypothesize these effects are stronger for employees who are newer to the firm in contrast to those with more experience. We analyze scheduling and performance data from 7,893 retail sales representatives over a 1‐year period. Results show co‐scheduling with higher performers has an immediate negative effect on employee performance, but is positively related to employee performance over time. Unexpectedly, co‐scheduling effects were present for all employees and not only for those new to the organization. Our study points to the need for HR research on employee scheduling to better understand how shift workers' schedules provide the relational context for their work. The research offers several theoretical contributions in understanding the peer effects of higher performers, and we offer practical implications for managers seeking to design employees' schedules to encourage organizationally advantageous relationships between coworkers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background Due to work commitments, shiftworkers often obtain inadequate sleep, consequently experiencing negative health, wellbeing, and safety outcomes. Given shiftworkers may have limited control over their work commitments, lifestyle and environmental factors within their control may present an intervention opportunity. However, such interventions require tailoring to ensure applicability for this sleep-vulnerable population. Methods A randomised waitlist control pilot trial investigated the effectiveness of mobile health application Sleepfit, which delivered a tailored sleep health intervention aimed at improving sleep health and sleep hygiene outcomes amongst paramedic shiftworkers. Outcome measures of self-reported sleep health (sleep need, duration, and quality, fatigue, Insomnia Severity Index, Fatigue Severity Scale, and Epworth Sleepiness Scale scores) and sleep hygiene (Sleep Hygiene Index score) were collected at baseline, post-intervention, and 3-month follow-up. Results Fifty-eight paramedics (aged 33.4 ± 8.0 years; 50% male) were recruited, and trialed Sleepfit for a 14-day intervention period between August 2021–January 2022. For all participants, there was a significant reduction in Insomnia Severity Index and Sleep Hygiene index scores after intervention engagement. Regression models demonstrated no significant intervention effect on sleep health or sleep hygiene outcomes (intervention versus waitlist control group). A high study drop-out rate (91.4%) prevented assessment of outcomes at 3-month follow-up. Conclusions Pilot trial findings demonstrate that Sleepfit may elicit improvements in sleep health and sleep hygiene outcomes amongst paramedic shiftworkers. However, low enrolment and retention means that findings should be interpreted with caution, further highlighting potential engagement challenges, especially among paramedics who are particularly in need of support for improved sleep. Trial registration Prospectively registered with the Australian New Zealand Clinical Trial Registry 24/01/2020 (reference no. ACTRN12620000059965).

Background: Due to work commitments, shiftworkers often obtain inadequate sleep, consequently experiencing negative health, wellbeing, and safety outcomes. Given shiftworkers may have limited control over their work commitments, lifestyle and environmental factors within their control may present an intervention opportunity. However, such interventions require tailoring to ensure applicability for this sleep-vulnerable population. Methods: A randomised waitlist control pilot trial investigated the effectiveness of mobile health application Sleepfit, which delivered a tailored sleep health intervention aimed at improving sleep health and sleep hygiene outcomes amongst paramedic shiftworkers. Outcome measures of self-reported sleep health (sleep need, duration, and quality, fatigue, Insomnia Severity Index, Fatigue Severity Scale, and Epworth Sleepiness Scale scores) and sleep hygiene (Sleep Hygiene Index score) were collected at baseline, post-intervention, and 3-month follow-up. Results: Fifty-eight paramedics (aged 33.4 ± 8.0 years; 50% male) were recruited, and trialed Sleepfit for a 14-day intervention period between August 2021–January 2022. For all participants, there was a significant reduction in Insomnia Severity Index and Sleep Hygiene index scores after intervention engagement. Regression models demonstrated no significant intervention effect on sleep health or sleep hygiene outcomes (intervention versus waitlist control group). A high study drop-out rate (91.4%) prevented assessment of outcomes at 3-month follow-up. Conclusions: Pilot trial findings demonstrate that Sleepfit may elicit improvements in sleep health and sleep hygiene outcomes amongst paramedic shiftworkers. However, low enrolment and retention means that findings should be interpreted with caution, further highlighting potential engagement challenges, especially among paramedics who are particularly in need of support for improved sleep. Trial registration: Prospectively registered with the Australian New Zealand Clinical Trial Registry 24/01/2020 (reference no. ACTRN12620000059965). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rapid technology growth in the maritime defense sector demands efficient and effective human performance, particularly in roles involving navigation, tactical decision-making, and emergency responses. To accommodate this demand, our study aims to find the effects of the two most significant performance influencing factors i.e., mental alertness and workload on the performance of Electronic Support Measures (ESM) receiver operators in complex task environments of a surface combat ship. A Discrete Event Simulation model with the Task Network Modeling approach was developed in IPME software. Alertness, measured by the Karolinska Sleepiness Scale (KSS), was predicted for Crew Chiefs' schedules (4–8, 6–6, and 8–8) using the Three Process Model in FIPS software. The simulation integrated KSS predictions and VACP workload values, with 10 simulation runs, for each schedule, to assess the effects of mental alertness and workload on the total number of signals missed, the total number of signals logged, and percentage time at risk. The findings reveal that mental alertness variation due to different shift patterns in combination with mental workload significantly influence performance metrics, especially during night time operations, highlighting potential attention lapses and reduced efficiency. This comprehensive analysis provides valuable insights into the dynamics of shift work and task demands, aiming to enhance operational safety and performance in critical environments. The study's methodology and findings offer a foundation for further research and practical applications in various industries where managing mental alertness and workload is crucial for safety and efficient crew performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The concept of Circadian Syndrome (CircS) aims to emphasize the circadian disruptions underlying cardiometabolic conditions. Meal timing and shiftwork may disrupt circadian rhythms, increasing cardiometabolic risk. This study aimed to assess the associations of meal timing, meal skipping, and shiftwork with CircS in US adults and explore effect modifications by sociodemographic and lifestyle factors. CircS was defined using Metabolic Syndrome components in addition to short sleep and depression symptoms. Data from 10,486 participants of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2005–2016 were analyzed cross-sectionally. Mealtime was assessed by calculating the midpoint of intake between breakfast and dinner and dichotomizing it into favorable mealtime (between 12:30 and 13:15) and unfavorable mealtime using a data-driven approach. Meal skippers were categorized separately. Participants working evening, night, or rotating shifts were classified as shift workers. In the multivariable logistic regression analysis, an unfavorable mealtime, meal skipping, and shiftwork were associated with a higher likelihood of CircS (OR = 1.24; 95%CI 1.07–1.44, OR = 1.39; 95%CI 1.16–1.67, and OR = 1.37; 95%CI 1.01–1.87, respectively). Subgroup analyses revealed no significant interactions between meal timing, meal skipping, or shiftwork and socioeconomic status or lifestyle regarding CircS. These findings highlight the importance of aligning mealtimes with circadian rhythms for improved circadian health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Anaesthesiologie & Intensivmedizin is the property of DGAI e.V. - Deutsche Gesellschaft fur Anasthesiologie und Intensivmedizin e.V. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Chronotype represents individual preferences to work specific shifts. Few researchers have examined the impact of chronotype on critical care (CC) nurses' physical and psychological health as well as performance in the workplace. to investigate the impact of specific chronotypes on the physiological and psychological health of CC nurses as well as their performance in the workplace. A descriptive cross-sectional design was used to conduct the study. Data were collected using three instruments: the Morningness-Eveningness Questionnaire, the Standard Shiftwork Index (SSI), and the Six Dimension Scale of Nursing Performance (Six-D Scale). A convenient sample of 101 nurses working in critical care units at two hospitals in Jordan was recruited. Results showed that the trend of nurses to the chronotypes compatibility less than those who did not show their compatibility (45.5%). Results also indicated weak negative associations between chronotype and gastrointestinal health and cardiovascular health, respectively (r = −.108; r = −.020). There was a weak positive association between chronotype and psychological health (r =.000). Regarding work performance, negative significant correlations between chronotype and the two domains of work performance (i.e. frequency [P =.01] and quality of nursing activity [P =.05]) were discovered. Chronotype is typically induced by the shiftwork system, so it may be more appropriate to plan work requirements and daily activities based on chronotype to avoid the consequences of health disruptions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of HeilberufeSCIENCE is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The central circadian pacemaker in the suprachiasmatic nuclei (SCN) aligns the phase and period of autonomous molecular oscillators in peripheral cells to daily light/dark cycles via physiological, neuronal, hormonal, and metabolic signals. Among different entrainment factors, temperature entrainment has been proposed as an essential alternative for inducing and sustaining circadian rhythms in vitro. While the synchronization mechanisms for hormones such as glucocorticoids have been widely studied, little is known about the crucial role of body temperature as a systemic cue. In this work, we develop a semi-mechanistic mathematical model describing the entrainment of peripheral clocks to temperature rhythms. The model incorporates a temperature sensingtransduction cascade involving a heat shock transcription factor-1 (HSF1) and heat shock response (HSR) pathway to simulate the entrainment of clock genes. The model is used to investigate the mammalian temperature entrainment and synchronization of cells subject to temperature oscillations of different amplitudes and magnitudes and examine the effects of transitioning between temperature schedules. Our computational analyses of the system’s dynamic responses reveal that 1) individual cells gradually synchronize to the rhythmic temperature signal by resetting their intrinsic phases to achieve coherent dynamics while oscillations are abolished in the absence of temperature rhythmicity; 2) alterations in the amplitude and period of temperature rhythms impact the peripheral synchronization behavior; 3) personalized synchronization strategies allow for differential, adaptive responses to temperature rhythms. Our results demonstrate that temperature can be a potent entrainer of circadian rhythms. Therefore, in vitro systems subjected to temperature modulation can serve as a potential tool for studying the adjustment or disruption of circadian rhythms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In today's modern world, longer working hours, shift work, and working at night have become major causes of the disruption of our natural circadian rhythms. This study aimed to investigate the effects of the type of shift work (rotating vs. fixed day), duty period (on-duty vs. off-duty), and working period within each shift (nighttime vs. daytime) on the circadian rhythm characteristics of nurses who provide direct patient care. Methods: This cross-sectional study used a purposive sampling method. Cosinor analysis was applied to analyze the actigraphy data of nurses providing direct patient care for seven consecutive days. The linear mixed effects model was then used to determine any variances between shift type, duty period, and working period within each shift for the nurses. Results: The mesor value did not differ according to nurses' shift type, duty period, and working period within each shift. The amplitude was statistically higher in on-duty nurses and in daytime working hours. The acrophase was significantly delayed in nighttime working hours. As well as nurses in rotating shift had experience. Conclusion: Our findings revealed that the peak activity of nurses occurs significantly later at night while working and nurses working during nighttime hours may have a weaker or less distinct circadian rhythm. Thus, this study suggests that limits be placed on the number of rotating nighttime shifts for nurses.

Acute care nurses may suffer substantial fatigue if working night shift or if assigned a shift contrasting their preferred sleep-wake patterns, called chronotype. Nurses are at higher risk for diet-related, metabolic diseases compared to other healthcare professionals. Yet, the impact of preferred chronotype and mismatch to assigned shift on nutritional intake and risk for metabolic disease among acute care nurses is unclear. This observational study analyzed dietary data from 52 acute care nurses. Participants completed the revised morningness-eveningness questionnaire which gives a total score between 4 and 26. Lower scores (<12) were flagged as evening type (E-type), higher scores (>17) defined as morning type (M-type), and scores between 12 and 17 were categorized as neither types (N-type). N-type participants were considered chronotype matched when assigned to either shift, whereas E-types were only considered matched if assigned to night shift, and M-types matched only if assigned to day shift. Participants also recorded all dietary intake for 7 d (reflecting a typical workweek) in the MyFitnessPal phone application. Findings indicated that eveningness nurses had markers of MetS, including a significantly larger body mass index and waist circumference than N-types (p < 0.05). E-types also consumed, on average, more calories than other chronotypes (m = 1833.7 kcal), although this was not a statistically significant finding. Mismatched day (n = 7, 13.4%) and night (n = 5, 9.6%) nurses in our sample consumed, on average, more calories (m = 1935.1 kcal, m = 1981.2 kcal, respectively) than matched day (n = 24, 46.2%, m = 1642.6 kcal) or night (n = 16, 30.8%, m = 1599.1 kcal) nurses, although this finding was not statistically significant. Mismatched day nurses consumed significantly less fiber than day matched nurses (median = 10.9 g versus median = 18.5 g, p = 0.04), while night mismatched consumed significantly more fiber compared to night matched (median = 21 g versus median = 12.2 g, p = 0.05) nurses. Participant diets overall did not follow recommendations by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), who consumed a higher percentage of calories from saturated fats and a smaller percentage of calories from fiber, habits which increase risk for metabolic syndrome. Further research surrounding nutritional pathways utilizing larger samples is needed to uncover relationships with metabolic syndrome especially for eveningness-type nurses or if working a shift mismatched with preferred chronotype. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: There is debate whether nurses are active enough stemming from differences in measurement tools, clinical contexts, and nursing tasks. A descriptive case study concerning the use of device-based measures in combination with direct observation is presented to examine the effect of the nursing context and the discrepancies between different measurement tools for identifying nurses' on-shift activity levels. Methods: Data were collected across seven shifts in medical and surgical wards. Nurses' activity was assessed using accelerometry and heart rate monitoring, in addition to direct observation. Data graphs were plotted for each shift and measurement device, with direct observations used to contextualise the data and identify discrepancies. Results: Higher activity levels were recorded on-shift through heart rate monitoring (87%) compared to accelerometry (27%). This pattern was also observed specifically on early, late, and medical ward shifts. Data discrepancies between the two devices stemmed from the shift and (or) ward type, highlighting the importance of understanding the context of nursing duties when assessing nurses' activity levels. Conclusions: It is also vital that researchers, policymakers, and practitioners consider how they will measure nurses' occupational physical activity, which consequently will influence outcomes, and therefore, decisions around the need (or not) for intervention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Chronic disease is the leading cause of death globally. Sleep, diet, and physical activity are modifiable health behaviours that are key for reducing the burden of chronic disease. These health behaviours are collectively termed 'The 3 Pillars of Health' and are critical for populations who are at risk of poor health. Shiftworkers are one such at-risk population. To target behavioural change it is critical to first understand which of these health behaviours Australians currently prioritise. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate how Australians (including shift workers) prioritise sleep, physical activity, and diet, and examine the associations with correlates of health behaviours. Methods: Two cohorts of Australian adults were sampled. A cohort of 1151 Australian adults (54% female, aged 18–65 years) including employed (in any work schedule), unemployed, studying, and retired completed a phone interview. A cohort of 533 Australian shiftwork-only adults (76% female, 18–72) completed an online survey. All participants were asked which health behaviour (sleep, physical activity, or diet) they prioritised in their own life. Behavioural correlates of sleep, diet, and physical activity (sleep duration, frequency of moderate to physical activity, healthy dietary behaviour), and years of shiftwork experience were also collected. Multinomial logistic regressions were used to investigate the association between the highest prioritised pillar of health and the behavioural correlates. Results: Diet was prioritised by the Australian adults (49%), whereas sleep was prioritised by the shiftwork-only sample (68%). Australian adults who prioritised diet were significantly more likely to report diets with less fast-food consumption (p < 0.002) and more fruit consumption (p < 0.002) compared to those that prioritised sleep. For the shiftwork-only sample, those with 16–30 years of shiftwork experience were significantly more likely to prioritise sleep compared to diet (p < 0.05). However, prioritising sleep was not associated with meeting the sleep duration recommendations in the shiftwork-only sample. Conclusions: Across two cohorts of Australians, prioritisation of health behaviour was only associated with actual behaviour for diet. This may reflect different motivations for prioritising different health behaviours, in addition to different capabilities to change different health behaviours. Future research should include longitudinal methodologies to understand how behaviour prioritisation changes over work- and life-span, and any associations with actual health behaviour. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Nurses are at risk of poor sleep due to their shift duties which has serious implications on their health. Hence this study was carried out to study the sleep quality of nurses working in a tertiary hospital and to identify the factors associated with it. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 375 nurses working in shifts for more than a year in a tertiary care centre of central India. Socio-demographic and work-related details were collected with the help of a pre-designed pre-tested questionnaire. Sleep quality was measured by Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index. Clinical characteristics were also assessed which included hypertension, diabetes, BMI and psychological well being. Psychological well-being was assessed by GHQ-12. Association of sleep quality with sociodemographic, work-related and clinical characteristics was determined. Chi square test was used to test for significance and logistic regression analysis was done using IBM SPSS V23. Results: Out of total 375 nurses, 50.40% had poor sleep quality. Mean age of the participants was 38.36±8.69 years. Extended family, working in emergency departments, work experience of ≤5 years, hypertension, and poor psychological well-being were the factors demonstrated to be independently associated with poor sleep quality. Conclusions: Poor sleep quality among nurses is a matter of concern and warrants further investigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To assess the influence of time of day when a study is interpreted on discrepancy rates for common and advanced studies performed in the acute community setting. Methods: This retrospective study used the databank of a U.S. teleradiology company to retrieve studies between 2012 and 2016 with a preliminary report followed by a final report by the on-site client hospital. Neuroradiology, abdominal radiology, and musculoskeletal radiology studies were included. Teleradiologists were fellowship trained in one of these subspecialty areas. Daytime, evening, and overnight times were defined. Associations between major and minor discrepancies, time of day, and whether the study was common or advanced were tested with significance set at p =.05. Results: A total of 5,883,980 studies were analyzed. There were 8444 major discrepancies (0.14%) and 17,208 minor discrepancies (0.29%). For common studies, daytime (0.13%) and evening (0.13%) had lower major discrepancy rates compared to overnight (0.14%) (daytime to overnight, RR = 0.57, 95%CI: 0.45, 0.72, p < 0.01 and evening to overnight, RR = 0.57, 95%CI: 0.49,0.67, p < 0.01). Minor discrepancy rates for common studies were decreased for evening (0.29%) compared to overnight (0.30%) (RR = 0.89, 95%CI: 0.80,0.99, p = 0.029). For advanced studies, daytime (.15%) had lower major discrepancy rates compared to evening (0.20%) and overnight (.23%) (daytime to evening, RR = 0.77, 95%CI: 0.61, 0.97, p = 0.028 and daytime to overnight, RR = 0.66, 95%CI: 0.50, 0.87, p ≤ 0.01). Conclusion: Significantly higher major discrepancy rates for studies interpreted overnight suggest the need for radiologists to exercise greater caution when interpreting studies overnight and may require practice management strategies to help optimize overnight work conditions. The lower major discrepancy rates on advanced studies interpreted during the daytime suggest the need for reserving advanced studies for interpretation during the day when possible. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: This study compares the pattern of physical activity and sleep between shift and non-shift workers using a novel physical activity–sleep index. By drawing from a diverse occupational population, this research aims to reduce any occupational specific biases which are prevalent in shift-work research. Subject and methods: Current data included 7607 workers (shift workers n = 832) from the Household Income and Labour Dynamics of Australia cohort study. The combined physical activity–sleep index comprised three physical activity components and three sleep health components: achieving moderate (1pt) or high (2pts) IPAQ classification; accruing ≥30% of physical activity as vigorous intensity (1pt); meeting sleep duration recommendations on a work night (1pt); and non-work night (1pt); and reporting no insomnia symptoms (1pt) (higher score = healthy behaviour, max. 6). Generalised linear modelling was used to compare behaviours of shift and non-shift workers. Results: Findings showed shift workers reported significantly lower activity–sleep scores (3.59 vs 3.73, p < 0.001), lower sleep behaviour sub-score (2.01 vs. 2.22, p < 0.001) and were more likely to report insomnia symptoms (p < 0.001) compared to non-shift workers. No difference was reported for overall physical activity (shift = 1.58 vs. non-shift = 1.51, p = 0.383). Conclusion: When viewed in conjunction using the combined activity–sleep index, shift workers displayed significantly poorer combined behaviours when compared to non-shift workers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Mechanisms leading to burnout, associated with high turnover in nursing, may start as early as in nursing school. Given health habits (e.g., diet, physical activity, and sleep) can exacerbate or lessen the impact of burnout, this study examined current barriers and facilitators to healthy diet, physical activity levels, and sleep among nursing undergraduates (UGs) and early-career nurses (ECNs). Research Design: Qualitative descriptive study. Sample: 25 nursing UGs and 25 ECNs (within 3 years of graduation) from a Southeastern college of nursing. Data Collection and Analysis: After development of theory-informed interview guides, participants conducted interviews either in-person or by phone, which were audio-recorded and transcribed. Braun and Clarke's six-step thematic analysis was used to analyze the transcripts. Results: All but one (aged 54) UG was in their early 20s and ECNs were in their early to mid-20s. Most participants were white, females. Time and stress were the strongest barriers among UGs and ECNs for adherence to healthy diet, physical activity, although stress did act as a facilitator for physical activity in a subset of both UGs and ECNs. Shiftwork was a common barrier to healthy behaviors among ECNs. Conclusion: The fact that the more common and stronger barriers to healthier behaviors among UGs and ECNs were the same give credence to the idea that processes associated with burnout begin during or before nursing education and are persistent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: The purpose of this study was to determine the impact of 12 h day vs. 12 h night shift-accumulated fatigue on nurses’ driving safety. Background: Evidence across industries links work-related fatigue with errors, accidents, and adverse long-term health outcomes. Shifts of 12 h or longer are particularly problematic, and the potential risks to shift-worker driving safety during their post-shift commute home have yet to be fully explored. Methods: This study used a between-groups, repeated-measures non-randomized control trial. Forty-four nurses working 12 h day shifts and 49 nurses working 12 h night shifts were tested in a driving simulator on two separate occasions—once immediately following their third consecutive 12 h hospital shift and once on their third consecutive day (72 h) off work. Results: We found that night shift nurses had significantly greater lane deviation during the post-shift drive home compared to day shift nurses, which is a key indicator of collision risk, demonstrating impaired driving safety. Conclusions: Consecutive 12 h night shifts are an extremely popular shift for nurses working in the hospital setting, however they pose a significant driving safety risk to nurses assigned to night shifts. This study provides objective evidence of the impact of shift work-related fatigue on 12 h night shift nurse safety, allowing us to make recommendations that may help prevent injury or death from motor vehicle collisions.

Shift work has been associated with an increased risk of developing chronic non-communicable diseases, such as obesity. The reduction in overnight fasting and its physiological consequences seem to affect the metabolic health of shift workers, but little has been discussed regarding the feasibility and implications of maintaining a night-long fast during work. This narrative review aims to discuss the impact of eating behavior on the reduction of overnight fasting in shift workers, as well as possible nutritional strategies involving fasting that have been tested for shift workers, to contribute to the establishment of nutritional guidelines for them. We used various databases and search engines to retrieve relevant articles, reviews, and investigations. Despite the potential benefits of overnight fasting for other groups, few studies have investigated this approach in the context of shift work. Generally, it seems to be a feasible and metabolically beneficial strategy for shift workers. However, it is essential to investigate the potential risks and benefits of reducing the fasting time for shift workers, considering social, hedonic, and stress-related factors. Furthermore, randomized clinical trials are necessary to establish safe and feasible strategies for shift workers to practice different fasting windows. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study, titled “Chronicles of the Midnight Strain: Exploring Graveyard Shift Stress and Its Impact on Employee Burnout in Call Centers,” delves into the intricate relationship between the demanding nature of graveyard shift work in call centers and its potential consequences on employee burnout. The research adopts a comprehensive approach, investigating various factors such as electronic performance monitoring, job demands, physiological indicators, and the role of lifestyle factors in cardiovascular health. Drawing from a vast array of literature, the study explores the causal links and mechanisms of action, emphasizing the significant role of sleep disruption and circadian rhythm desynchronization in contributing to cardiovascular disease among shift workers. Additionally, it considers the impact of stress, working hours, and dietary patterns on the overall well- being of employees working during the unconventional hours of the night. The study reviews existing theories proposing connections between shiftwork, sleep loss, and cardiovascular diseases. It scrutinizes factors like inflammation, blood coagulation, cardiac autonomic function, and the interplay between stress-related hormones and cardiovascular health. Multiple hypotheses are examined, including the influence of a stressful work environment, disturbed sleep on the immune system, and lifestyle factors such as dietary habits and substance use. Despite over two decades of continuous research, the findings in this area remain inconclusive regarding the precise role of shiftwork in cardiovascular disease. The study aims to contribute valuable insights into mitigating the potential adverse effects of graveyard shift stress on employee burnout in call centers, providing a foundation for further research and the development of targeted interventions.

A network of cellular timers ensures the maintenance of homeostasis by temporal modulation of physiological processes across the day. These so-called circadian clocks are synchronized to geophysical time by external time cues (or zeitgebers). In modern societies, natural environmental cycles are disrupted by artificial lighting, around-the-clock availability of food or shift work. Such contradictory zeitgeber input promotes chronodisruption, i.e., the perturbation of internal circadian rhythms, resulting in adverse health outcomes. While this phenomenon is well described, it is still poorly understood at which level of organization perturbed rhythms impact on health and wellbeing. In this review, we discuss different levels of chronodisruption and what is known about their health effects. We summarize the results of disrupted phase coherence between external and internal time vs. misalignment of tissue clocks amongst each other, i.e., internal desynchrony. Last, phase incoherence can also occur at the tissue level itself. Here, alterations in phase coordination can emerge between cellular clocks of the same tissue or between different clock genes within the single cell. A better understanding of the mechanisms of circadian misalignment and its effects on physiology will help to find effective tools to prevent or treat disorders arising from modern-day chronodisruptive environments.

The circadian system is generally considered to be incapable of adjusting to rapid changes in sleep/work demands. In shiftworkers this leads to chronic circadian disruption and sleep loss, which together predict underperformance at work and negative health consequences. Two distinct experimental protocols have been proposed to increase circadian flexibility in rodents using dim light at night: rhythm bifurcation and T-cycle (i.e., day length) entrainment. Successful translation of such protocols to human shiftworkers could facilitate alignment of internal time with external demands. To assess entrainment flexibility following bifurcation and exposure to T-cycles, mice in Study 1 were repeatedly phase-shifted. Mice from experimental conditions rapidly phase-shifted their activity, while control mice showed expected transient misalignment. In Study 2 and 3, mice followed a several weeks-long intervention designed to model a modified DuPont or Continental shiftwork schedule, respectively. For both schedules, bifurcation and nocturnal dim lighting reduced circadian misalignment. Together, these studies demonstrate proof of concept that mammalian circadian systems can be rendered sufficiently flexible to adapt to multiple, rapidly changing shiftwork schedules. Flexible adaptation to exotic light-dark cycles likely relies on entrainment mechanisms that are distinct from traditional entrainment.

Katya Kovac,1 Grace E Vincent,1 Jessica L Paterson,2 Sally A Ferguson1 1School of Health, Medical and Applied Sciences, Appleton Institute, Central Queensland University, Wayville, SA, Australia; 2Flinders Institute of Mental Health and Wellbeing, College of Education, Psychology and Social Work, Flinders University, Bedford Park, SA, AustraliaCorrespondence: Katya Kovac, School of Health, Medical and Applied Sciences, Appleton Institute, Central Queensland University, 44 Greenhill Road, Wayville, SA, 5034, Australia, Tel +61 420 718 242, Email katya.kovac@cqumail.comPurpose: The aim of this exploratory cross-sectional mixed methods study was to determine 1) whether sleep inertia, the temporary state of impaired vigilance performance upon waking, is perceived to be a concern by emergency service personnel, 2) what strategies are currently used by emergency service workplaces to manage sleep inertia, 3) the barriers to implementing reactive sleep inertia countermeasures, and 4) what strategies personnel suggest to manage sleep inertia.Participants and Methods: A sample (n = 92) of employed and volunteer Australian emergency service personnel (fire and rescue, ambulance, police, state-based rescue and recovery personnel) completed an online survey. Data collected included demographic variables and work context, experiences of sleep inertia in the emergency role, barriers to sleep inertia countermeasures, and existing workplace sleep inertia countermeasures and recommendations. Quantitative data were analysed using descriptive statistics, and qualitative data were thematically analysed.Results: Approximately 67% of participants expressed concern about sleep inertia when responding in their emergency role. Despite this, there were few strategies to manage sleep inertia in the workplace. One major barrier identified was a lack of time in being able to implement sleep inertia countermeasures. Fatigue management strategies, such as reducing on-call periods, and operational changes, such as screening calls to reduce false alarms, were suggested by participants as potential strategies to manage sleep inertia.Conclusion: Sleep inertia is a concern for emergency service personnel and thus more research is required to determine effective sleep inertia management strategies to reduce the risks associated with sleep inertia and improve personnel safety and those in their care. In addition, future studies could investigate strategies to integrate reactive sleep inertia countermeasures into the emergency response procedure.Keywords: fatigue management, on-call, shiftwork, intervention effectiveness, barriers

Aim: The purpose of this study was to determine the impact of 12 h day vs. 12 h night shift-accumulated fatigue on nurses' driving safety. Background: Evidence across industries links work-related fatigue with errors, accidents, and adverse long-term health outcomes. Shifts of 12 h or longer are particularly problematic, and the potential risks to shift-worker driving safety during their post-shift commute home have yet to be fully explored. Methods: This study used a between-groups, repeated-measures non-randomized control trial. Forty-four nurses working 12 h day shifts and 49 nurses working 12 h night shifts were tested in a driving simulator on two separate occasions—once immediately following their third consecutive 12 h hospital shift and once on their third consecutive day (72 h) off work. Results: We found that night shift nurses had significantly greater lane deviation during the post-shift drive home compared to day shift nurses, which is a key indicator of collision risk, demonstrating impaired driving safety. Conclusions: Consecutive 12 h night shifts are an extremely popular shift for nurses working in the hospital setting, however they pose a significant driving safety risk to nurses assigned to night shifts. This study provides objective evidence of the impact of shift work-related fatigue on 12 h night shift nurse safety, allowing us to make recommendations that may help prevent injury or death from motor vehicle collisions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The negative impact of an unhealthy diet on the shiftworker population has been well-documented. However, little evidence exists on the underlying reasons for unhealthy eating behaviours and the existing barriers to healthy eating withinshiftwork environments. This qualitative study investigated the dietary behaviours reported by shiftworkers through Facebook comments. Comments were collected if they were on public shiftworker-relevant posts pertaining to dietary news or dietary information on Facebook and were posted by self-identified shiftworkers, relatives of shiftworkers, or partners of shiftworkers. A thematic analysis of the 144 comments collected generated four categories that can be used to understand the motivations for eating behaviour on-shift: what shiftworkers eat, where food is sourced from, when food is eaten, and why certain foods are chosen. Results reveal motivations, attitudes, and both internal and external barriers to healthy eating behaviours, as well as similarities and differences across shiftwork industries. Recommendations for future research include further explorations on the link between scheduled eating (e.g., time-restricted eating) and shiftwork, the impact of a rotating shift arrangements on dietary health behaviours, and the impact of interpersonal relationships on shiftworker dietary choices. Understanding these motivations will inform strategies to promote healthy eating and help understand barriers for shiftworkers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Shiftwork leads to myriad negative health and safety outcomes. Lighting countermeasures can benefit shiftworkers via physiological effects of light (e.g. alerting, circadian adjustment), and short-wavelength light is the most potent for eliciting those responses; however, limited work indicates it may not be required for alerting. We developed similar-appearing light boxes (correlated color temperature: 3000–3375 K; photopic illuminance: 260–296 lux), enriched (SW+, melanopic EDI: 294 lux) or attenuated (SW-, melanopic EDI: 103 lux) in short-wavelength energy, and implemented them on a high-security watchfloor. Efficacy and feasibility of these two novel lighting interventions were assessed in personnel working 12-hour night shifts (n  = 47) in this within-participants, crossover study. For each intervention condition, light boxes were arranged across the front of the watchfloor and illuminated the entire shift; blue-blocking glasses were worn post-shift and before sleep; and sleep masks were used while sleeping. Comparisons between baseline and intervention conditions included alertness, sleep, mood, quality of life (QOL), and implementation measures. On-shift alertness (Karolinska Sleepiness Scale) increased in SW− compared to baseline, while changes in SW+ were more limited. Under SW+, both mood and sleep improved. Psychomotor vigilance task performance did not vary by condition; however, perceived performance and QOL were higher, and reported caffeine consumption and sleep onset latency were lower, under SW−. For both interventions, satisfaction and comfort were high, and fewer symptoms and negative feelings were reported. The addition of spectrally engineered lights to this unique work environment improved sleep, alertness, and mood without compromising visual comfort and satisfaction. This paper is part of the Sleep and Circadian Rhythms: Management of Fatigue in Occupational Settings Collection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background Many risk factors related to altered circadian rhythms impact the health of night-shift hospital workers (NSHW), resulting in mental and somatic disorders. Easy access to psychoactive substances (PS) may facilitate addictive behaviors in NSHW. They are also exposed to a stressful work environment, which may further affect sleep quality. This study aimed to explore the link between sleep deprivation, work-related psychosocial stress and psychoactive substance use as a self-medication response in NSHW. Methods Qualitative study to verify the plausibility of the self-medication theory applied to addictive behaviors. Semi-structured interviews (N = 18 NSHW) and thematic analysis, following consolidated criteria for reporting qualitative research recommendations. Results Stigma against NSHW was a primary element of a stressful work environment. The stressful and stigmatizing environment, together with night-shift work, further affected NSHW sleep and their mental and physical health. The use of PS appeared to be for self-medication, encouraged by social and professional environments, source(s) of stress, discrimination, and isolation. The work environment, through aggravated sleep disorders, led NSHW to use non-prescribed sleeping pills. Alcohol after work and smoking were used as a social break but also as a means to reduce stress. Conclusion Anti-stigma interventions in the healthcare setting and screening of mental/somatic disorders in NSHW can help reduce harmful self-medication behaviors and improve hospital care in the COVID-19 era.

Annbjørg Abrahamsen,1,2 Pál Weihe,1,2 Fróði Debes,1 Wessel MA van Leeuwen3 1Department of Occupational Medicine and Public Health, The Faroese Hospital System, Tórshavn, Faroe Islands; 2The University of Faroe Islands, Faculty of Health Sciences, Tórshavn, Faroe Islands; 3Stockholm University, Department of Psychology, Stress Research Institute, Stockholm, SwedenCorrespondence: Wessel MA van Leeuwen, Stockholm University, Department of Psychology, Stress Research Institute, Stockholm, 10691, Sweden, Tel +46 08-553 789 17, Email wessel.vleeuwen@su.sePurpose: Faroese fishers have four times more accidents than workers on land. The aim was to understand fishers’ fatigue better and how their work and sleep patterns influenced their sleepiness levels and cognitive performance.Materials and Methods: A total of 157 Faroese fishers wore wrist-worn actigraphs at sea and one week on land and filled in sleep and sleepiness diaries during the trip. Furthermore, a 3-minute simple reaction time (SRT) test was completed at the beginning and end of the trip. The ship’s movement and noise were also logged. The actiwatch results were analysed with mixed methods repeated measures. The sleepiness registrations and performance on the SRT-test were analysed with paired t-test. The ship movements (Pitch and roll) were divided into approximately three same-sized groups (lowest 1/3, medium 1/3, and highest 1/3) and compared against the Karolinska Sleepiness Scores (KSS ranging from 1– 9) ≥ 7 and physical tiredness (ranging from 1– 9) scores ≥ 7. Chi-square tests were used to determine the significance of these differences. Mean sleepiness scores at sea, and the proportion of sleepiness scores ≥ 7 were calculated, as well as sleepiness scores as a function of the time of day.Results: While at sea, fishers had more split sleep, slept less, and had lower sleep efficiency than onshore. Sleepiness was higher at the end of the trip, and cognitive decline was found. The number of major lapses was higher at the end of the trip, but with no significant difference between the median reaction times.Conclusion: The crew on-board the freezer longliner, who worked 8– 8 shifts, slept the most, had the longest continuous sleep periods, the highest sleep efficiency, the lowest sleepiness levels, and the highest noise exposure during their time off.Keywords: fisher, fishing, shift work, tired, actigraph

Shift employments are known to alter body composition. Due to their unique body composition, South Asians are more susceptible to non-communicable diseases; shift employment may make this risk even higher. Understanding how shift work affects employees' body composition may persuade companies to modify shift schedules or invest in wellness programs. Objective: This study compared the body composition parameters between shiftworkers and nonshiftworkers in a hospital setting in Sri Lanka. Methods: A comparative cross-sectional study was carried out among a sample of 78 health care workers, recruited by a stratified random sampling technique. Subjects underwent anthropometric and bioimpedentiometric analysis for body composition parameters. Results: The mean (SD) body fat percentage (BF%) of shiftworking women (40.8 [SD, 6.8%]) was significantly higher than day-working women (36.7% [SD, 5.9%]) (P < 0.05). Mean BF% between day and shift groups did not significantly differ (33.0% [SD, 6.9%] vs 32.4% [SD, 10.7%]). Body mass index and waist circumference were significantly higher among shiftworking women (P < 0.05), whereas male workers showed the opposite trend. Conclusion: Prolonged exposure to shiftwork was associated with a higher BF%. Therefore, interventions for shiftworkers must be addressed, focusing on improving body composition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: During 2003–2013, 1189 US oil and gas extraction (OGE) workers died while working, resulting in an average annual workplace fatality rate seven times that for all US workers. OGE work commonly involves long hours, shiftwork, irregular schedules, and long commutes, but effects of these factors on fatigue, occupational injury, and illness in OGE are largely unknown. Methods: A scoping review of relevant OGE research during 2000–2019 was completed and supplemented by input from a NIOSH‐sponsored Forum. Results: Seventy‐eight papers were identified; 76% reported only offshore research. Five themes for research needs emerged: build knowledge about the impacts of fatigue; explore interactions between on‐ and off‐the‐job risk factors; identify and evaluate interventions; assess effectiveness of technology; and increase the diffusion of fatigue risk management information. Conclusions: Further collaboration between researchers and OGE operators and contractors can lead to action‐oriented recommendations to mitigate the effects of fatigue, inadequate sleep, and shiftwork. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Sleep inertia is the brief period of performance impairment and reduced alertness experienced after waking, especially from slow‐wave sleep. We assessed the efficacy of polychromatic short‐wavelength‐enriched light to improve vigilant attention, alertness and mood immediately after waking from slow‐wave sleep at night. Twelve participants (six female, 23.3 ± 4.2 years) maintained an actigraphy‐confirmed sleep schedule of 8.5 hr for 5 nights, and 5 hr for 1 night prior to an overnight laboratory visit. In the laboratory, participants were awakened from slow‐wave sleep, and immediately exposed to either dim, red ambient light (control) or polychromatic short‐wavelength‐enriched light (light) for 1 hr in a randomized crossover design. They completed a 5‐min Psychomotor Vigilance Task, the Karolinska Sleepiness Scale, and Visual Analogue Scales of mood at 2, 17, 32 and 47 min after waking. Following this testing period, lights were turned off and participants returned to sleep. They were awakened from their subsequent slow‐wave sleep period and received the opposite condition. Compared with the control condition, participants exposed to light had fewer Psychomotor Vigilance Task lapses (χ2[1] = 5.285, p = 0.022), reported feeling more alert (Karolinska Sleepiness Scale: F1,77 = 4.955, p = 0.029; Visual Analogue Scalealert: F1,77 = 8.226, p = 0.005), and reported improved mood (Visual Analogue Scalecheerful: F1,77 = 8.615, p = 0.004). There was no significant difference in sleep‐onset latency between conditions following the testing period (t10 = 1.024, p = 0.330). Our results suggest that exposure to polychromatic short‐wavelength‐enriched light immediately after waking from slow‐wave sleep at night may help improve vigilant attention, subjective alertness, and mood. Future studies should explore the potential mechanisms of this countermeasure and its efficacy in real‐world environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

IP: 140.234.253.9 On: Thu, 20 Oct 2022 05:29:59 Copyright: Aerospace Medical Association Delivered by Ingenta BACKGROUND: T he challenges of climate change and increasing frequency of severe weather conditions has demanded innovative approaches to wildfire suppression. Australia's wildfire management includes an expanding aviation program, providing both fixed and rotary wing aerial platforms for reconnaissance, incident management, and quick response aerial fire suppression. These operations have typically been limited to day visual flight rules operations, but recently trials have been undertaken extending the window of operations into the night, with the assistance of night vision systems. Already a demanding job, night aerial firefighting operations have the potential to place even greater physical and mental demands on crewmembers. This study was designed to investigate sleep, fatigue, and performance outcomes in Australian aerial firefighting crews. METHODS: A total of nine subjects undertook a 21-d protocol, completing a sleep and duty diary including ratings of fatigue and workload. Salivary cortisol was collected daily, with additional samples provided before and after each flight, and heart rate variability was monitored during flight. Actigraphy was also used to objectively measure sleep during the data collection period. RESULTS: Descriptive findings suggest that subjects generally obtained >7 h sleep prior to flights, but cortisol levels and selfreported fatigue increased postflight. Furthermore, the greatest reported workload was associated with the domains of 'performance' and 'mental demand' during flights. DISCUSSION: Future research is necessary to understand the impact of active wildfire response on sleep, stress, and workload on aerial firefighting crews. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A network of cellular timers ensures the maintenance of homeostasis by temporal modulation of physiological processes across the day. These so-called circadian clocks are synchronized to geophysical time by external time cues (or zeitgebers). In modern societies, natural environmental cycles are disrupted by artificial lighting, around-the-clock availability of food or shiftwork. Such contradictory zeitgeber input promotes chronodisruption, i.e., the perturbation of internal circadian rhythms, resulting in adverse health outcomes. While this phenomenon is well described, it is still poorly understood at which level of organization perturbed rhythms impact on health and wellbeing. In this review, we discuss different levels of chronodisruption and what is known about their health effects. We summarize the results of disrupted phase coherence between external and internal time vs. misalignment of tissue clocks amongst each other, i.e., internal desynchrony. Last, phase incoherence can also occur at the tissue level itself. Here, alterations in phase coordination can emerge between cellular clocks of the same tissue or between different clock genes within the single cell. A better understanding of the mechanisms of circadian misalignment and its effects on physiology will help to find effective tools to prevent or treat disorders arising from modern-day chronodisruptive environments.

Disruption of circadian rhythm caused by night-shift work has been associated with several disorders, including cancer. Health care personnel often works at night to insure the continuity of care. Aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of night-shift work on serum and saliva levels of steroid hormones, vitamin D, and melatonin in hospital female workers. Ninety-seven female hospital workers were recruited: 46 nurses performing clockwise rapid rotating shift schedule on a 5-day cycle, including one night, and 51 day workers. Thirteen steroid hormones and vitamin D were assessed in morning serum samples; cortisol, cortisone and melatonin were assessed in morning and evening saliva samples. We fitted multiple regression models adjusted for age, BMI, sampling month, ovarian cycle phase, and use of oral contraceptives (OC). Rapidly rotating clockwise shift work was associated with increased levels of serum corticosterone, 11-deoxycortisol, dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), and androstenedione, and decreased levels of estradiol and vitamin D. OC modulated the association between serum cortisol, corticosterone and 11-deoxycortisol and work shift. The normal circadian phase of salivary melatonin, cortisol and cortisone was not affected by shift work. In female hospital nurses, the clockwise rapid rotating shift schedule increases the level of some hormones, likely associated with stress. No increase of estradiol, nor modification of salivary hormones was observed., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Sleepiness is a significant workplace safety hazard and prevalent in shift workers including bus drivers. Several aspects of professional driving can result in shortened sleep and increased sleepiness, which has the potential to result in workplace injuries, incidents and crashes. Caffeine is an effective sleepiness countermeasure; however, private and professional drivers also report using potentially ineffective countermeasures such as sugar. By identifying factors which predict use of specific countermeasures (e.g., sugar, caffeine), educational initiatives could be targeted towards encouraging effective use. A subset of data was analysed from a driver sleepiness survey with London bus drivers (n=1,335). Univariate and multivariate logistic regressions were conducted to determine which factors separately predicted use of sugar (n=238) or caffeine (n=238) as a sleepiness countermeasure. Being female, having higher self-reported sleep quality and waking indexes and actively doing something to stay awake were predictive of sugar use. Age, sleeping pill use and actively doing something to stay awake were the strongest predictors of caffeine. However, many predictors from the univariate analyses were the same for both sugar and caffeine. Although tailored initiatives could be developed, broader education relating to managing sleepiness should be implemented for all bus drivers to encourage effective countermeasure use.

The operation of naval vessels involves watchkeeping 24 h per day, which is globally carried out by a variety of different watch systems. In this study, the rotating 4:4 and fixed 4:4/6:6 two-section watch systems were compared in terms of sleepiness, fatigue, and stress responses. The data collection took place on a Finnish Defence Forces' (FDF) Navy missile patrol boat with 15 crew members serving as study participants. The data collection periods lasted two separate weeks (7 days, 6 nights) with the different watch systems. The subjective sleepiness of the participants was assessed before and after every watch using the Karolinska Sleepiness Scale (KSS). Stress responses were assessed daily by the recorded levels of salivary alpha-amylase (sAA), cortisol (sCor), immunoglobulin A (sIgA), and dehydroepiandrosterone (sDHEA). The participants' sustained attention, inhibitory control, and working memory were assessed daily by cognitive tests (SART, N-Back). The heart rate variability (HRV) during an orthostatic test was used as an additional daily marker to assess the amount of psychological stress of the participants. In this study, the difference regarding sleepiness and fatigue between the study weeks was most visible in the subjective KSS, which clearly favored the 4:4/6:6 system. The results of sAA and sIgA also suggested that the subjects were psychologically less stressed during the study week with the 4:4/6:6 watch system. Cognitive test results (SART, N-Back) indicated that there were overall no significant differences in the subjects' sustained attention, inhibitory control, or working memory during the study weeks or between the study weeks. The results of the HRV data during the daily orthostatic tests were inconclusive but there was some indication that the subjects were less stressed during the study week with the 4:4/6:6 watch system. In conclusion, the present study indicates that in navy surface operations: working with the fixed 4:4/6:6 watch system causes less sleepiness, fatigue, and psychological stress than working with the rotating 4:4 watch system. The study result is well in line with previous research regarding watch systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Shiftworkers are more likely to suffer from gastrointestinal disease and Type 2 Diabetes than the general population, likely due to their altered dietary intakes. Previous research has suggested that coping strategies and health behaviours may be linked, however, questions remain regarding these relationships in shiftworking populations. The Standard Shiftwork Index and Food Frequency Questionnaire were completed by nurses/midwives working forward rotating shifts (N=27, female=24, age=38.4 ± 13.1 y). Greater engaged coping strategy usage was associated with lower total energy, fat, carbohydrate and sugar intake (ρs>-0.1). Greater disengaged coping strategy usage was associated with greater intake of these nutrients (ρs>0.1). Results suggest that engaged coping strategies may contribute to healthier dietary choices. A greater focus on coping styles, particularly during nursing education, may improve shiftworkers' health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Summary: Police officers experience exposures associated with increased inflammation, such as the stress associated with shiftwork and poor‐quality diet, both of which have been shown to affect sleep duration and quality. This study examined the longitudinal and cross‐sectional effects of the Energy‐density Dietary Inflammatory Index (E‐DII™) on objectively and subjectively measured sleep among police officers. Data were derived from the Buffalo Cardio‐Metabolic Occupational Police Stress Cohort (n = 464 at baseline), with longitudinal data collected from 2004 to 2019. A food frequency questionnaire obtained estimated dietary intake from which E‐DII scores were calculated. Dependent variables were objectively (Micro Motion Logger Sleep Watch™) and subjectively (Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index) measured sleep quality and quantity. The analyses included a series of linear mixed‐effects models used to examine cross‐sectional and longitudinal associations between the E‐DII and sleep quantity and quality. Cross‐sectionally, more pro‐inflammatory diets were associated with higher wake‐after‐sleep‐onset but improved subjective sleep quality. In models accounting for both longitudinal and cross‐sectional effects, for every 1‐unit increase in the E‐DII scores over time (representing a pro‐inflammatory change), wake‐after‐sleep‐onset increased by nearly 1.4 min (p = 0.07). This result was driven by officers who primarily worked day shifts (β = 3.33, p = 0.01). Conversely, for every 1‐unit increase in E‐DII score, the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index global score improved. More pro‐inflammatory diets were associated with increased wake‐after‐sleep‐onset, an objective measure of sleep quality. Intervention studies to reduce dietary inflammatory potential may provide greater magnitude of effect for changes in sleep quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Shift work is related to a number of health disorders including metabolic syndrome (MetS). South Asians have a high risk for MetS compared to Caucasians and shift working could accentuate this disease risk. MetS prevalence data among employees may persuade employers to change shift working schedules or invest in wellness programs. Objective: This study evaluated the association between shiftwork and metabolic syndrome (MetS) among a group of health care workers in Sri Lanka. Methods: This study was in comparative cross-sectional design with 78 shiftworkers and nonshiftworkers 18 years and older. Data were collected through questionnaires, anthropometric measures, and blood tests. Metabolic syndrome was diagnosed based on the International Diabetes Federation and modified National Cholesterol Education Program, Adult Treatment Panel III criteria. Results: The prevalence of MetS according to the International Diabetes Federation criteria was 16.2% and 36.6% among day workers and shiftworkers (P = 0.043). According to modified National Cholesterol Education Program, Adult Treatment Panel III, 18.9% of day workers and 36.6% of shiftworkers had MetS (P = 0.083). The best predictors of MetS were age (odds ratio, 1.07; 95% confidence interval, 1.02–1.12; P = 0.008) and shiftwork (odds ratio, 2.78; confidence interval, 0.90–8.72; P = 0.076). Conclusion: Shiftworkers had a more than twofold increased risk of developing MetS than day workers. Intervention targeting diet, physical activity, awareness sessions, and health screenings should be promoted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

By improving sleep, officers may reduce risk of chronic illness as well as fatigue-related mistakes. As fatigue-management training is incorporated into the police community, data should show reductions in health and safety risks. Positive effects may spread to the community as more alert officers are better fit for their work. Objective: Pilot test the effectiveness of an online training program for managing shift work and long work hours. Method: Fifty-seven officers from across the United States participated for 12 weeks in a pre-test, training intervention, post-test design assessing the following measures: sleep using actigraphy, diaries, and surveys; knowledge and feedback about the training using surveys. Results: After the training, actigraphy data showed significant reductions in sleep latency and awakenings during sleep. Survey data showed reductions in sleepiness, difficulty staying awake during the day, and difficulty getting things done. Frequency of nightmares also decreased. Participant's knowledge about sleep improved and satisfaction with the training was high. Conclusion: Participants were satisfied with the training and showed objective improvements in their sleep and subjective improvements in feelings when awake. This research will help inform interventions to improve police officer health and wellness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]