The Effectiveness of Light/Dark Exposure to Treat Insomnia in Female Nurses Undertaking Shift Work during the Evening/Night Shift

Huang, Li Bi; Tsai, Mei Chu; Chen, Ching Yen; Hsu, Shih Chieh

doi:10.5664/jcsm.2824

Cited by 49 publications

(48 citation statements)

References 35 publications

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“…This strategy, however, seems more appropriate for shifts longer than 8 h. Indeed, policy changes in nursing practice should consider effective treatments for reducing sleepiness associated with night shifts. For this reason, we plan to assess the efficacy of exposure to bright light ( Huang et al, 2013 ) at the start of the night shift for reducing sleepiness to the levels of morning and afternoon shifts.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Nurses and Night Shifts: Poor Sleep Quality Exacerbates Psychomotor Performance

et al. 2020

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In Europe, 40% of health-care employees are involved in shift work. The altered sleep/wake rhythm of night-shift nurses is also associated with deteriorated cognitive efficiency. In this study, we examine the effects of the night shift on psychomotor performance, sleepiness, and tiredness in a large sample of shift-working nurses and evaluated if poor sleep quality, sex, age, or years on the job could impact on a better adaptation to shift work. Eighty-six nurses with 8-h-rapidly-rotating-shifts were evaluated at the end of three shifts (morning/afternoon/night) for sleepiness and tiredness. Sleepiness, as measured by the Karolinska Sleepiness Scale, and tiredness, as measured by the Tiredness Symptoms Scale, were more pronounced after the night shift. These increases were paralleled by lower attentional performance on the psychomotor vigilance task (PVT) after the night shift. While sex, age, and years on the job did not affect PVT performance after the night shift, lower sleep quality (Pittsburgh Sleep Quality, PSQI > 5) was associated with decreased performance. The high prevalence of altered sleep quality showed that nurses, and shift workers in general, are at risk for a poor sleep quality. The evaluation of sleep quality through PSQI could represent a rapid, inexpensive tool to assess health-care workers assigned to rotating night shifts or to evaluate nurses who coped poorly with night-shift work.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Nurses and Night Shifts: Poor Sleep Quality Exacerbates Psychomotor Performance

et al. 2020

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“…Eventually, six new studies were added to the meta-analysis. However, one study was later excluded from further analyses, as it yielded an effect size that was considered an extreme outlier [45]. As a consequence, 53 unique studies were included in the present meta-analysis.…”

Section: Selection Of Studiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

The effects of light therapy on sleep problems: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Maanen

Meijer

Heijden

et al. 2016

Sleep Medicine Reviews

302

206

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Although bright light therapy seems a promising treatment for sleep problems, research shows inconclusive results. This meta-analysis is the first to systematically review the effect of light therapy on sleep problems in general and on specific types of sleep problems in particular (circadian rhythm sleep disorders, insomnia, sleep problems related to Alzheimer's disease and dementia). Fifty-three studies with a total of 1154 participants were included. Overall effects and effects on separate circadian and sleep outcomes were examined. We calculated Hedges' g effect sizes and we investigated the effects of twelve moderators (design-related, treatment-related, participant-related). Light therapy was found effective in the treatment of sleep problems in general (g = 0.39), and for circadian rhythm sleep disorders (g = 0.41), insomnia (g = 0.47), and sleep problems related to Alzheimer's disease/dementia (g = 0.30) specifically. For circadian rhythm sleep disorders, effects were smaller for randomised controlled trials. For insomnia, we found larger effects for studies using a higher light intensity, and for sleep problems related to Alzheimer's disease/dementia larger effects were found for studies with more female participants. There was indication of publication bias. To conclude, light therapy is effective for sleep problems in general, particularly for circadian outcomes and insomnia symptoms. However, most effect sizes are small to medium.

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“…The reverse occurs upon darkness. Shiftwork perturbs circadian homeostasis, and considerable research has focused upon light therapy, circadian biology, and health [ 5 , 15 – 17 ]. Bright light even of short duration has been shown to impart acute positive effects in night shift working nurses, including heightened subjective alertness and reduced insomnia, anxiety, and depression [ 18 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Bright environmental light improves the sleepiness of nightshift ICU nurses

et al. 2018

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BackgroundShift work can disturb circadian homeostasis and result in fatigue, excessive sleepiness, and reduced quality of life. Light therapy has been shown to impart positive effects in night shift workers. We sought to determine whether or not prolonged exposure to bright light during a night shift reduces sleepiness and enhances psychomotor performance among ICU nurses.MethodsThis is a single-center randomized, crossover clinical trial at a surgical trauma ICU. ICU nurses working a night shift were exposed to a 10-h period of high illuminance (1500–2000 lx) white light compared to standard ambient fluorescent lighting of the hospital. They then completed the Stanford Sleepiness Scale and the Psychomotor Vigilance Test. The primary and secondary endpoints were analyzed using the paired t test. A p value <0.05 was considered significant.ResultsA total of 43 matched pairs completed both lighting exposures and were analyzed. When exposed to high illuminance lighting subjects experienced reduced sleepiness scores on the Stanford Sleepiness Scale than when exposed to standard hospital lighting: mean (sem) 2.6 (0.2) vs. 3.0 (0.2), p = 0.03. However, they committed more psychomotor errors: 2.3 (0.2) vs. 1.7 (0.2), p = 0.03.ConclusionsA bright lighting environment for ICU nurses working the night shift reduces sleepiness but increases the number of psychomotor errors.Trial registrationClinicalTrials.gov, NCT03331822. Retrospectively registered on 6 November 2017.

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The Effectiveness of Light/Dark Exposure to Treat Insomnia in Female Nurses Undertaking Shift Work during the Evening/Night Shift

Cited by 49 publications

References 35 publications

Nurses and Night Shifts: Poor Sleep Quality Exacerbates Psychomotor Performance

Nurses and Night Shifts: Poor Sleep Quality Exacerbates Psychomotor Performance

The effects of light therapy on sleep problems: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Bright environmental light improves the sleepiness of nightshift ICU nurses

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