ASSESSMENT OF THE HEALTH EFFECTS OF ROTATING SHIFT WORK AMONG HOSPITAL NURSES
TL;DR
Despite being essential for providing continuous patient care, rotating shift work is associated with adverse physical, psychological, and social effects among nurses, which include disturbed sleep patterns, digestive problems, fatigue, cognitive difficulties, and reduced family and social interaction.
Abstract
Background: Shift work is essential for ensuring continuous patient care in hospitals. However, rotating shifts can disrupt nurses' circadian rhythms and may increase their risk of various health problems, including cardiovascular disease, obesity, diabetes, cognitive dysfunction, and psychological distress. Nurses frequently work under demanding conditions, including staff shortages and high patient workloads. Although increasing evidence from different countries suggests that shift work adversely affects nurses' sleep, fatigue, hormonal regulation, and family and social life, limited studies have examined these effects among nurses in the local setting. The objective is to investigate the effects of rotating shift work on the health of nurses working in tertiary care hospitals. Study Design: Cross-sectional study. This study was conducted at Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto Medical College Lyari Karachi from June 2025 to June 2026. Materials and Methods: This study included 250 male and female nurses employed in tertiary care hospitals who had at least one year of experience working rotating shifts. Participants were selected using a simple random sampling technique. Data were collected through a structured questionnaire administered in person. The questionnaire included demographic characteristics and questions assessing the physical, psychological, and social effects of rotating shift work on nurses. Results: Of the 250 nurses approached, 210 responded to the questionnaire, yielding a response rate of 84.0%. Among the respondents, 60.0% were male, 77.6% were married, and 70.0% held a Bachelor's degree in Nursing. Only 34.3% of nurses reported sleeping 6–8 hours per day, while the majority reported shorter sleep duration. The most frequently reported physical effects were headache (35.7%), fatigue (25.2%), peptic ulcer symptoms (20.5%), and indigestion/heartburn (18.6%). Psychological effects included difficulty with cognition (26.2%), insomnia (25.2%), changes in eating behavior (24.8%), and sleep deprivation (23.8%). Regarding social effects, 30.9% reported disruption of daily life, 24.3% reported spending less time with family, 23.3% reported reduced participation in social activities, and 21.5% reported reduced participation in community activities. Conclusion: Despite being essential for providing continuous patient care, rotating shift work is associated with adverse physical, psychological, and social effects among nurses. These include disturbed sleep patterns, digestive problems, fatigue, cognitive difficulties, and reduced family and social interaction. Strategies aimed at improving shift scheduling, sleep opportunities, and workplace support may help reduce the negative health and social consequences of rotating shift work among nurses.