No abstract

BACKGROUND: Shift work is an integral part of life for most of the working population. Reaction time determines the alertness, so it may vary during shift work among different professionals. AIMS: To compare the auditory reaction time (ART) and visual reaction time (VRT) in security guards, staff nurses and resident doctors during shift work and also between these professionals. SETTINGS AND DESIGN: Comparative prospective experimental study in a tertiary care teaching hospital. MATERIALS AND METHODS: ART and VRT were studied in 104 security Guards, 142 staff nurses and 40 resident doctors during day and night shift in the age group of 20 to 60 years with research reaction timer. Subjects were presented with two auditory and two visual stimuli. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS USED: Standard error of difference between two means, 'z' test.