Abstract:
Objectives: This study aimed at studying the effects of shiftwork on health in nurses in Benha University Hospitals.
Background: About one-fourth of hospital workers work in shift system. Shiftwork stress have been linked to negative effects on health. However, the studies on shiftwork effects are limited.
Methods: This cross-sectional study targeted all nurses in Benha University Hospitals, Qualubeyia, Egypt, over the period between beginning of January to end of december 2014. The nurses completed Shiftwork Standard Index SSI questionnaire and had physical examination including measuring random blood sugar level, blood pressure for cardiovascular condition and vital signs specially pulse to assess arrhythmias, body weight, height and Body Mass Index for obesity.
Results: The study recruited 803 nurses, all of them were females, 43% aged >40 years with mean duration in shiftwork 18.99 years. Most nurses were married. The surgical departments’ nurses had significant higher BMI ,digestive and Languidiness scores than medical departments’ nurses. Both DBP and SBP were higher in married nurses who had dependent households. Nurses worked ≤40 hours/week in night and afternoon shifts had significant higher sleep disturbance score. Cardiovascular score was significantly higher among nurses aged ≥40 years, and who worked in shift system for 20-40 years, there were significant positive correlations between DBP and number of households, and between cardiovascular problems and age, work duration in shift system.
Conclusions: Shiftwork was associated with health hazards, which mandated guidelines to protect nurses from the negative impact of shiftwork.
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