The effects of sleepiness, time of day, and 12-h shifts on affective and cognitive empathy in emergency medical technicians.

Empathy is a crucial facet in providing healthcare to patients. Healthcare requires its workers to work extended shifts and provide 24/7 coverage, which can lead to increased sleepiness and changes in empathy. This study assessed how cognitive and affective empathy were affected by time of day, working a 12-h shift, and perceived sleepiness in emergency medical technicians. Results demonstrated that affective empathy was higher in the evening and declined with sleepiness, while cognitive empathy declined after working a 12-h shift. Shift work differentially influences empathy in healthcare professionals, an important consideration in future research and patient care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]