What happens to the body when one works at night?

Effects of workload and job stress on the shift work disorders among nurses: PLS SEM modeling

Nurses, as the largest forces in the health system, are always challenged with various work responsibilities such as long working hours, lack of manpower and death of patients. This study aimed at providing a model of the relationship between workload and physical and mental health, sleep disorders, and individual and family problems by the mediation role of job stress. The present study is a cross-sectional study that was conducted on 300 nurses in a specialty and sub-specialty hospital in Tehran. For this reason, various questionnaires including demographic, survey of shift workers (SOS) and job stress questionnaires were used to collect the desired data. The proposed model was presented using structural equation modeling method based on Smart-PLS and SPSS-20 software. The results show that workload has an effect on job stress (β=0.747), mental health (β=-0.291), Physical health (β=-0.253), sleep quality (β=-0.234) and personal and family problems (β=-0.206). Also the results of this study show that job stress has an effect on mental health (β=-0.295), Physical health (β=-0.349), sleep quality (β=-0.295) and Personal and family problems (β=-0.441). In conclusion, results showed that the data fitted well with the model and that workload is associated with physical and mental problems, sleep disorders and individual and family problems both directly and indirectly through job stress mediation.

Cardiovascular risk factors among oil refinery workers: ecological study

Background

Monitoring the health of workers is indispensable to develop indicators to identify potential risk factors and the workload impact on illness and characterize their morbidity profile.

Objective

To identify modifiable and non-modifiable cardiovascular risk factors among employees of an oil refinery with fixed work schedule or allocated to shifts.

Methods

Ecological, exploratory, descriptive and quantitative study with data retrieved from the company's record system. We performed time series analysis of the prevalence of risk factors in the period from 2008 through 2017.

Results

We found an increasing trend in the prevalence of hypertension and diabetes and a decreasing trend for high cholesterol, high LDL, low HDL, smoking and coronary artery risk. The prevalence of hypertension increased, while that of all other risk factors, except for diabetes, decreased in 2017 by comparison to 2008.

Conclusion

The analyzed sample is at medium risk for cardiovascular disease despite their young age, high educational level and available resources. We call attention to the need to systematize workplace health promotion programs.

Night work and fatigue symptoms are associated with clinical monitoring indicators among workers living with HIV

Background

Infection with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) acquired the features of a chronic disease, thus requiring long-term follow-up. Different forms of work organization might prevent or increase the likelihood of poorer clinical prognosis.

Objective

To analyze HIV clinical monitoring indicators according to work shift, work ability and fatigue symptoms relative to workers living with HIV.

Methods

Cross-sectional study conducted with 115 workers (daytime: 97; night shift: 18) living with HIV followed up at the Specialized Care Service of Santos, Sao Paulo, Brazil. Generalized linear models (with LSD as post hoc test) were fitted to compare viral load, CD4+ T cell count and CD4+/CD8+ ratio according to work shift, work ability and fatigue symptoms adjusted for sex, age, time since diagnosis, duration of antiretroviral therapy, use of efavirenz and psychoactive substances, and emotional disorders.

Results

We found association of fatigue symptoms with CD4+ T cell count and CD4+/CD8+ ratio; the CD4+ T cell count was higher among the participants with moderate need for recovery after work (p=0.02) and the CD4+/CD8+ ratio among those with lower need for recovery (p=0.03). We also found a borderline relationship (p=0.05) between work shift and CD4+ T cell count, which was lower for night workers. Difference was not found in the analyzed indicators as a function of work ability.

Conclusion

HIV clinical monitoring indicators were poorer for night workers and better for those with more severe fatigue symptoms. Work ability did not influence HIV clinical monitoring indicators.

Excess weight in regular aviation pilots associated with work and sleep characteristics

OBJECTIVE

To identify the prevalence and associated factors of overweight and obesity in Brazilian commercial airline pilots. Methods An observational, cross-sectional study involving 1198 Brazilian commercial airline pilots with a sampling power >80% (ß=20%) and confidence level of 95% (α=5%) was carried out. The pilots completed an on-line questionnaire collecting data on sociodemographics, work, health, lifestyle and sleep. Poisson regression, with robust variance (stepwise forward technique), was employed to analyze the factors associated with excess weight (overweight and obesity). The models were adjusted for the variables age, marital status and education. The data were analyzed using the STATA 12.0 program.

RESULTS

The prevalence of overweight among the pilots was 53.7% and of obesity was 14.6%. The probability of being overweight was highest among pilots working night shifts for 6-10 years and that had difficulty relaxing after work, where perceived morningness was a protective factor. Risk factors for obesity included working night-shifts for 6-10 years, having difficulty relaxing after work, sleeping <6 h on days off, having other diagnosed diseases, and practicing <150 min/week of physical exercise.

CONCLUSION

It was concluded that the prevalence of overweight and obesity among the commercial airline pilots was high and represents a public health problem in this population. Excess weight was associated with time working night-shifts, difficulty relaxing after work, inadequate sleep on days off, having other chronic diseases, and physical inactivity. In this context, nutritional status can be regarded as the result of dynamic and complex interactions promoted by occupational, sleep and health factors.

Trabalhadoras de turno noturno: relações de gênero, produção de vulnerabilidades e promoção da saúde

Objetivo analisar os impactos que o trabalho noturno exerce sobre a saúde de trabalhadoras do setor metal-mecânico. Métodos a partir do olhar sobre as relações de gênero, foca-se como a organização e a divisão social do trabalho afetam a vida cotidiana dessas mulheres. Examinam-se essas experiências à luz das reflexões sobre vulnerabilidades, produzidas na relação gênero/trabalho/saúde. Trata-se de um estudo qualitativo, realizado em 2012, empregando-se entrevistas semiestruturadas com nove trabalhadoras de turno noturno de uma empresa localizada na região metropolitana de Porto Alegre/RS. A análise dos dados foi guiada pelo método de Análise de Discurso. Foram construídos eixos analíticos com base no diálogo entre a literatura e os discursos das entrevistadas. Discussão identificaram-se desigualdades de gênero que impactam nas condições de saúde das trabalhadoras metalúrgicas de turno noturno, apontando-se algumas especificidades das vivências dessas trabalhadoras no local pesquisado: agudo processo de subvalorização do trabalho, descanso limitado, alimentação irregular, dificuldades na organização da vida fora do ambiente de trabalho, falta de acesso a suportes sociais que apoiem as atividades femininas, sobrecarga das responsabilidades assumidas, que, muitas vezes, causam sofrimento mental e/ou outros adoecimentos.

Daytime sleepiness and attention in city bus drivers of two capitals of Brazil

Brazil is one of the world leaders on traffic accidents. The present article studied the excessive daytime sleepiness of public transport drivers in two Brazilian's capitals and their level of attention. It was conducted here a descriptive transversal study of a convenient sample. For the evaluation were used: anthropometric variables, a Sleep Questionnaire, Epworth Scale of Sonolency (ESS), Diffused Attention Test (TADIM), and Concentrated Attention Test (TACOM-A). There were evaluated 300 drivers from Brasilia and 104 from Florianopolis. The majority of the individuals were overweight and presented somnolence. The neck circumference was smaller in Brasília, where the drivers were also more sleepiness and presented worst attention on TACOM-A. The analysis of correlation was significant between attention tests and age and between BMI and ESS. Factors as differences in work journeys as well differences between the traffic in these two cities may be associated to our findings. We concluded that sleepiness is a common factor of risk between professional bus drivers and that was correlated with BMI, as well as the attention was correlated with age.

Relationship between napping during night shift work and household obligations of female nursing personnel

Night shift employment involves displacing sleep to the daytime. For female workers, the opportunity for daytime sleep is influenced by routine housework demands, which aggravates sleep deprivation. Allowing naps to be taken during the night shift of work is a frequent practice at some hospitals and can help reduce the effects of sleep deprivation. We hypothesize that an association between domestic work and the length of naps during night work exists for nursing professionals. To test this hypothesis, two cross-sectional studies were conducted in two different hospitals. In Study 1, female workers answered questionnaires regarding sleeping habits, professional work, and housework demands. In Study 2, data regarding napping during shifts was obtained by actigraphy, a noninvasive method of monitoring the human sleep–wake cycle. The demand for the performance of housework was measured by (i) domestic work hours (total time spent performing domestic work per week), and (ii) domestic workload, which considers the degree of sharing domestic tasks and the number of people living at home. The populations from the two studies were subdivided into groups, based on the duration of napping at work. Data on naps were analyzed according to domestic demands, using the Mann–Whitney and Chi-squared tests. Among the two study populations (Studies 1 and 2), those in Study 2 were older, had shorter professional weekly work hours, worked more night shifts, and dedicated more time to housework. significant associations were only found in Study 2, where greater time napping at work was associated with both greater time spent doing housework and greater domestic workload. The known benefits of napping during night shifts seem to be especially relevant for female workers who are more sleep-deprived from working more night shifts and who have higher demands for housework.

Psicologia da saúde e cronobiologia: diálogo possível?

A Psicologia da saúde visa a avaliar o papel do comportamento na etiologia da doença, a elaborar prognósticos dos comportamentos prejudiciais à saúde e a promover comportamentos saudáveis. Seu pressuposto epistemológico, o modelo biopsicossocial, envolve a interação de fatores biológicos, psicológicos e sociais na análise do processo saúde e doença. A cronobiologia ocupa-se da investigação temporal recorrente de variáveis fisiológicas e comportamentais assim como do ajuste temporal dessas variáveis ao ambiente e às suas demandas sociais. A proposta deste artigo, de caráter teórico, foi expor a interseção entre essas duas áreas, evidenciando que ambas contribuem para a compreensão dos efeitos biopsicossociais na saúde, para a identificação precoce de pessoas em situação de risco e para a prevenção de comportamentos saudáveis a fim de enfrentar situações conflituosas, além do seu papel na elaboração de programas de promoção à saúde, de estudos e de intervenções no campo comunitário e na saúde pública. São fundamentalmente especialidades interdisciplinares, que envolvem conhecimentos fisiológicos, comportamentais, cognitivos, educativos e ambientais e que fazem com que essa interseção se consolide.

Aspectos do regime de embarque, turnos e gestão do trabalho em plataformas offshore da Bacia de Campos (RJ) e sua relação com a saúde e a segurança dos trabalhadores

O artigo aborda pesquisa desenvolvida na indústria petrolífera offshore da Bacia de Campos (Rio de Janeiro, Brasil), campo empírico que acompanhamos de forma sistemática desde 2003 e que se situa no rol dos sistemas sociotécnicos complexos. Nosso objetivo é destacar os riscos potenciais associados à organização do trabalho, em especial o regime de embarque e o sistema de turnos adotados nas plataformas de petróleo por algumas das empresas atuantes na região. Isto porque entendemos que, no contexto investigado, os problemas relacionados à saúde - aí inclusos os que se situam na esfera mental - e à segurança dos trabalhadores possuem relação importante com aspectos da organização do trabalho, como aqueles que aqui se encontram em foco. Indicam-se proposições de mudança com o intuito de reduzir os impactos deletérios de tais fatores sobre a saúde e a segurança dos trabalhadores. A base teórico-metodológica utilizada na pesquisa se fundamenta, principalmente, no instrumental da Ergonomia da Atividade e da Psicodinâmica do Trabalho, numa perspectiva ergológica.

Study of autonomic nervous activity of night shift workers treated with laser acupuncture

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of laser acupuncture on the autonomic nervous system (ANS) of the night shift worker.

BACKGROUND DATA

Many articles have demonstrated that levels of affective disorders and stress are high in night shift workers. We applied laser energy to the Neiguan point (PC6) to examine the impact of laser acupuncture on the ANS of 45 healthy young males who were night shift workers and evaluated their heart-rate variability (HRV).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The laser group (n = 15) received laser acupuncture (9.7 J/cm(2), 830 nm) for 10 min, and the placebo group (n = 15) received sham laser treatment. The effects before and after this intervention on the HRV of the subjects were assessed, along with those seen after 30 min of lying down.

RESULTS

After treatment and after the 30-min rest period, the independent-sample t-test showed that both groups exhibited statistically significant differences in high-frequency (HF) HRV, low-frequency (LF) HRV, and the LF:HF ratio of HRV (p < 0.05). Compared with the placebo group, the paired-samples t-test showed that after laser treatment the treatment group had a statistically significant improvement in HF HRV (p = 0.001), LF HRV (p = 0.001), and the LF:HF HRV ratio (p = 0.02).

CONCLUSIONS

Laser acupuncture stimulation applied to the Neiguan point increased vagal activity and suppression of cardiac sympathetic nerves. This effect was positive and could be used to help patients who have circadian rhythm disorders.

Trabalho noturno e o novo papel paterno: uma interface difícil

Aumentou a demanda por trabalhadores noturnos, ao mesmo tempo em que o papel masculino familiar se ampliou. Neste estudo, objetivou-se comparar as condições de trabalho, o bem-estar pessoal e o envolvimento familiar entre pais dos turnos diurno (n=36) e noturno (n=22), que preencheram um questionário composto por diferentes escalas. Comparados aos trabalhadores do turno diurno, os do noturno relataram ter maior apoio dos colegas de trabalho e dos supervisores, maior satisfação quanto aos benefícios e salário, menor freqüência de interrupções durante o expediente de trabalho, mas menor satisfação quanto ao turno em que trabalhavam e menos tempo com os filhos. Os dois grupos de trabalhadores apresentaram pontuação média no nível de Stress e na satisfação quanto ao envolvimento familiar. Apesar de condições de trabalho mais favoráveis, os pais do noturno estavam insatisfeitos com seu turno, aparentemente em função da falta de tempo com familiares.

What do petrochemical workers, healthcare workers, and truck drivers have in common? Evaluation of sleep and alertness in Brazilian shiftworkers

The article reports briefly on some effects of shiftwork and the work environment on health and wellbeing of shiftworkers. Studies of Brazilian shiftworkers (healthcare workers, petrochemical workers, and truck drivers) are described. A similar methodology was used to evaluate sleep and alertness in all these studies. The evaluation of sleep duration and quality and alertness showed similar results in the three studies. Although the workers were in different work settings, performing different jobs, the results are similar: daytime sleep is reduced and perceived as having worse quality than nighttime sleep; alertness decreases as the night work progresses. The study highlights the importance of shiftwork schedules' features and work organization for workers' health, wellbeing, and safety.