Health-related interventions among night shift workers: a critical review of the literature

Abstract

The following articles refer to this text: 2014;40 (6) 543Review Scand J Work Environ Health. 2014:40(6):543-556. doi:10.5271/sjweh.3445 Health-related interventions among night shift workers: a critical review of the literature Objectives Associations between shift work and chronic disease have been observed, but relatively little is known about how to mitigate these adverse health effects. This critical review aimed to (i) synthesize interventions that have been implemented among shift workers to reduce the chronic health effects of shift work and (ii) provide an overall evaluation of study quality.Methods MeSH terms and keywords were created and used to conduct a rigorous search of MEDLINE, CINAHL, and EMBASE for studies published on or before 13 August 2012. Study quality was assessed using a checklist adapted from Downs & Black.Results Of the 5053 articles retrieved, 44 met the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Over 2354 male and female rotating and permanent night shift workers were included, mostly from the manufacturing, healthcare, and public safety industries. Studies were grouped into four intervention types: (i) shift schedule; (ii) controlled light exposure; (iii) behavioral; and, (iv) pharmacological. Results generally support the benefits of fast-forward rotating shifts; simultaneous use of timed bright light and light-blocking glasses; and physical activity, healthy diet, and health promotion. Mixed results were observed for hypnotics. Study quality varied and numerous deficiencies were identified.Conclusions Except for hypnotics, several types of interventions reviewed had positive overall effects on chronic disease outcomes. There was substantial heterogeneity among studies with respect to study sample, interventions, and outcomes. There is a need for further high-quality, workplace-based prevention research conducted among shift workers.

Sickness Absence at Work and Supporting Being Present At Work, Among Employees Working Different Shifts in the Forest Industry

“…The present study supports earlier findings that the so called long work rotation (six or seven nights in a row) is a risk factor for employee health [23][24][25][26]. In order to get enough rest to return to work refreshed, a fast-forward rotating shift schedule has been recommended by researchers [26] and by the Finnish Occupational Health Institution [29].…”

“…In order to get enough rest to return to work refreshed, a fast-forward rotating shift schedule has been recommended by researchers [26] and by the Finnish Occupational Health Institution [29]. Fast-forward rotation best supports the normal state of alertness and physiology in humans [23,29].…”

“…It is possible that changing the order of the evening and night shifts would have a positive effect on the sickness absence rate, and hence general health. The resulting shift model would then support normal human physiology [11,26] and the short work cycle (fast rotation of shifts: morning, morning, evening, evening, night, night, free, free) and fast shift model (only three or four night) be experienced positively [23][24][25][26]. It is known that work shift regularity is an important feature of an ergonomically designed work shift model [29].…”

“…Working time planning is important supporting the wellbeing of employees [20,[23][24][25][26]. For example Hornberger & Knauth [1995,1998] studies and Neil-Sztramko et al (2014) review results showed that fastforward shift rotation has positive effect employee's health [24][25][26].…”

“…For example Hornberger & Knauth [1995,1998] studies and Neil-Sztramko et al (2014) review results showed that fastforward shift rotation has positive effect employee's health [24][25][26]. Employees asked about working a fast-forward rotating shift versus a long rotating shift reported that the former work shift pattern had a better effect on sleep, alertness, wellbeing at work and general health [23].…”