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Patterson PD, Okerman TS, Roach DGL, Weaver MD, Patterson CG, Martin SE, Okwiya N, Nong L, Eyiba C, Huff JR, Ruzicka A, Ruggieri J, McIlvaine Q, Weiss LS. Effect of Short versus Long Duration Naps on Blood Pressure during Simulated Night Shift Work: A Randomized Crossover Trial. PREHOSP EMERG CARE 2023; 27:815-824. [PMID: 37347964 DOI: 10.1080/10903127.2023.2227891] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2023] [Revised: 05/02/2023] [Accepted: 06/11/2023] [Indexed: 06/24/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Blunting of the sleep-related dip in blood pressure (BP) has been linked to numerous cardiovascular outcomes including myocardial infarction. Blunting of BP dipping occurs during night shift work and previous research suggest that a 60-min or longer on-shift nap is needed to restore normal/healthy BP dipping. We sought to determine the effect of different durations of napping on BP during and following simulated night shifts. We hypothesized that the greatest benefit in terms of restoration of normal BP dipping during night shift work would be observed during a longer duration nap versus a shorter nap opportunity. METHODS We used a randomized crossover laboratory-based study design. Participants consented to complete three separate 72-hr conditions that included a 12-hr simulated night shift. Nap conditions included a 30-min and 2-hr nap compared to a no-nap condition. Ambulatory BP monitoring was assessed hourly and every 10-30 mins during in-lab naps. Blunted BP dipping during in-lab naps was the primary outcome. Goal enrollment of 25 (35 with attrition) provided 80% power to detect a mean difference of 5 mmHg in BP between nap conditions. RESULTS Of the 58 screened, 28 were consented, and 26 completed all three 72-hr conditions. More than half (53.6%) were female. Mean age was 24.4 years (SD7.2). Most (85.7%) were certified as emergency medical technicians or paramedics. The mean percentage dip in systolic BP (SBP) and diastolic BP (DBP) did not differ between the 30-min and 2-hr nap conditions (p > 0.05), yet a greater proportion of participants experienced a 10-20% dip in SBP or DBP during the 2-hr nap versus the 30-min nap (p < 0.05). For every additional minute of total sleep during the 30-min nap, the percentage of SBP dip improved by 0.60%, and the percentage of DBP dip improved by 0.68% (p < 0.05). These improvements approximate to a 6% per minute relative advancement toward normal/healthy BP dipping. CONCLUSIONS Restoration of a normal/healthy dip in BP is achievable during short and long duration nap opportunities during simulated night shift work. Our findings support the hypothesis that BP dipping is more common during longer 2-hr versus shorter 30-min naps. TRIAL REGISTRATION ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT04469803. Registered on 9 July 2020.
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Affiliation(s)
- P Daniel Patterson
- School of Medicine, Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
- School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, Emergency Medicine Program, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - Tiffany S Okerman
- School of Medicine, Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
- School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, Emergency Medicine Program, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - David G L Roach
- School of Medicine, Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - Matthew D Weaver
- Division of Sleep and Circadian Disorders, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts
- Division of Sleep Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Charity G Patterson
- School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, SHRS Data Center, and Department of Physical Therapy, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - Sarah E Martin
- School of Medicine, Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - Nicholas Okwiya
- School of Medicine, Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - Lily Nong
- School of Medicine, Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
- School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, Emergency Medicine Program, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - Chinemeh Eyiba
- School of Medicine, Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - Jordan R Huff
- School of Medicine, Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
- School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, Emergency Medicine Program, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - Anna Ruzicka
- School of Medicine, Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - Julia Ruggieri
- School of Medicine, Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - Quentin McIlvaine
- School of Medicine, Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
- School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, Emergency Medicine Program, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - Leonard S Weiss
- School of Medicine, Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
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Patterson PD, Martin SE, Brassil BN, Hsiao WH, Weaver MD, Okerman TS, Seitz SN, Patterson CG, Robinson K. The Emergency Medical Services Sleep Health Study: A cluster-randomized trial. Sleep Health 2023; 9:64-76. [PMID: 36372657 DOI: 10.1016/j.sleh.2022.09.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2021] [Revised: 09/26/2022] [Accepted: 09/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Greater than half of emergency medical services (EMS) clinician shift workers report poor sleep, fatigue, and inadequate recovery between shifts. We hypothesized that EMS clinicians randomized to receive tailored sleep health education would have improved sleep quality and less fatigue compared to wait-list controls after 3 months. METHODS We used a cluster-randomized, 2-arm, wait-list control study design (clinicaltrials.gov identifier: NCT04218279). Recruitment of EMS agencies (clusters) was nationwide. Our study was powered at 88% to detect a 0.4 standard deviation difference in sleep quality with 20 agencies per arm and a minimum of 10 individuals per agency. The primary outcome was measured using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) at 3-month follow-up. Our intervention was accessible in an online, asynchronous format and comprised of 10 brief education modules that address fatigue mitigation topics prescribed by the American College of Occupational Environmental Medicine. RESULTS In total, 36 EMS agencies and 678 individuals enrolled. Attrition at 3 months did not differ by study group (Intervention = 17.4% vs. Wait-list control = 18.2%; p = .37). Intention-to-treat analyses detected no differences in PSQI and fatigue scores at 3 months. Per protocol analyses showed the greater the number of education modules viewed, the greater the improvement in sleep quality and the greater the reduction in fatigue (p < .05). CONCLUSIONS While intention-to-treat analyses revealed no differences in sleep quality or fatigue at 3 months, per protocol findings identified select groups of EMS clinician shift workers who may benefit from sleep health education. Our findings may inform fatigue risk management programs.
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Affiliation(s)
- P Daniel Patterson
- University of Pittsburgh, School of Medicine, Department of Emergency Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; University of Pittsburgh, School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, Division of Community Health Services, Emergency Medicine Program, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA.
| | - Sarah E Martin
- University of Pittsburgh, School of Medicine, Department of Emergency Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Bridget N Brassil
- University of Pittsburgh, School of Medicine, Department of Emergency Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Wei-Hsin Hsiao
- University of Pittsburgh, School of Medicine, Department of Emergency Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Matthew D Weaver
- Brigham and Women's Hospital, Division of Sleep and Circadian Disorders, Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Harvard Medical School, Division of Sleep Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Tiffany S Okerman
- University of Pittsburgh, School of Medicine, Department of Emergency Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Staci N Seitz
- University of Pittsburgh, School of Medicine, Department of Emergency Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Charity G Patterson
- University of Pittsburgh, School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, Department of Physical Therapy, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Kathy Robinson
- National Association of State EMS Officials (NASEMSO), Falls Church, Virginia, USA
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Allison P, Tiesman HM, Wong IS, Bernzweig D, James L, James SM, Navarro KM, Patterson PD. Working hours, sleep, and fatigue in the public safety sector: A scoping review of the research. Am J Ind Med 2022; 65:878-897. [PMID: 35711032 PMCID: PMC9851314 DOI: 10.1002/ajim.23407] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2021] [Revised: 05/31/2022] [Accepted: 06/01/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The public safety sector includes law enforcement officers (LEO), corrections officers (CO), firefighter service (FF), wildland firefighting (WFF), and emergency medical services (EMS), as defined in the National Occupational Research Agenda (NORA) of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). Across these occupations, shiftwork, long-duration shifts, and excessive overtime are common. Our objective was to identify research gaps related to working hours, sleep, and fatigue among these workers. METHODS We used a scoping review study design that included searches of MEDLINE, Embase, CAB Abstracts, Global Health, PsychInfo, CINAHL, Scopus, Academic Search Complete, Agricultural and Environmental Science Collection, ProQuest Central, Cochrane Library, Safety Lit, Homeland Security Digital Library, and Sociological Abstracts using a range of occupational search terms and terms related to working hours, sleep, and fatigue. RESULTS Out of 3415 articles returned from our database search, 202 met all inclusion criteria. Six common outcomes related to working hours, sleep, and fatigue emerged: sleep, fatigue, work performance, injury, psychosocial stress, and chronic disease. Nearly two-thirds (59%, n = 120) of the studies were observational, of which 64% (n = 77) were cross sectional and 9% were (n = 11) longitudinal; 14% (n = 30) of the studies were reviews; and 19% (n = 39) were experimental or quasi-experimental studies. Only 25 of the 202 articles described mitigation strategies or interventions. FFs, LEOs, EMS, and WFFs were the most studied, followed by COs. CONCLUSIONS In general, more longitudinal and experimental studies are needed to enrich the knowledge base on the consequences of long working hours, poor sleep, and fatigue in the public safety sector. Few experimental studies have tested novel approaches to fatigue mitigation in diverse sectors of public safety. This gap in research limits the decisions that may be made by employers to address fatigue as a threat to public-safety worker health and safety.
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Affiliation(s)
- Penelope Allison
- Health Effects Laboratory Division, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Morgantown, West Virginia, USA
| | - Hope M. Tiesman
- Division of Safety Research, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Morgantown, West Virginia, USA
| | - Imelda S. Wong
- Division of Science Integration, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
| | - David Bernzweig
- Ohio Association of Professional Fire Fighters, Columbus, Ohio, USA
| | - Lois James
- Sleep and Performance Research Center, Washington State University, Spokane, Washington, USA
| | - Stephen M. James
- Sleep and Performance Research Center, Washington State University, Spokane, Washington, USA
| | - Kathleen M. Navarro
- Division of Field Studies and Engineering, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
| | - P. Daniel Patterson
- Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
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The Development, Implementation, and Feasibility of a Circadian, Light, and Sleep Skills Program for Shipboard Military Personnel (CLASS-SM). INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:ijerph19053093. [PMID: 35270786 PMCID: PMC8910671 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19053093] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2021] [Revised: 02/23/2022] [Accepted: 03/04/2022] [Indexed: 12/10/2022]
Abstract
Service members face unique barriers to sufficient and high quality sleep. In the present study, a circadian, light, and sleep skills program for shipboard military personnel (CLASS-SM) was designed to encourage and inform strategies that support optimal sleep and circadian health in the context of those barriers. Phase 1 included program development and refinement via an iterative formative evaluation, including structured interviews with service members and feedback from veterans and experts, resulting in further tailoring to the population. In Phase 2, the highly tailored program was administered to shipboard personnel (n = 55), and acceptability indicators were measured. Sleep- and circadian-related knowledge (pre- and post-program) and the perceived relevance of, and satisfaction with, program content (post-program) were assessed. Before the intervention, most individuals were unaware that 7−9 h of sleep is recommended (72%) and had little understanding of the physiological effects of light; however, knowledge scores increased significantly post-program, from 51% to 88% correct (p < 0.0001). Reception was positive, with high reported satisfaction and relevance. Most individuals reported that they learned something new (89%), planned to use one or more learned strategies (100%), and intended to share learned information with others (85%); the physiological effects of light and circadian rhythms were the content areas most frequently reported as new and useful. The results demonstrate the need for, and feasibility of, the delivery of this program in operational environments.
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Patterson PD, Weiss LS, Weaver MD, Salcido DD, Opitz SE, Okerman TS, Smida TT, Martin SE, Guyette FX, Martin-Gill C, Callaway CW. Napping on the night shift and its impact on blood pressure and heart rate variability among emergency medical services workers: study protocol for a randomized crossover trial. Trials 2021; 22:212. [PMID: 33726840 PMCID: PMC7962082 DOI: 10.1186/s13063-021-05161-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2021] [Accepted: 02/27/2021] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND There is an emerging body of evidence that links exposure to shift work to cardiovascular disease (CVD). The risk of coronary events, such as myocardial infarction, is greater among night shift workers compared to day workers. There is reason to believe that repeated exposure to shift work, especially night shift work, creates alterations in normal circadian patterns of blood pressure (BP) and heart rate variability (HRV) and that these alterations contribute to increased risk of CVD. Recent data suggest that allowing shift workers to nap during night shifts may help to normalize BP and HRV patterns and, over time, reduce the risk of CVD. The risk of CVD related to shift work is elevated for emergency medical services (EMS) shift workers due in part to long-duration shifts, frequent use of night shifts, and a high prevalence of multiple jobs. METHODS We will use a randomized crossover trial study design with three study conditions. The targeted population is comprised of EMS clinician shift workers, and our goal enrollment is 35 total participants with an estimated 10 of the 35 enrolled not completing the study protocol or classified as lost to attrition. All three conditions will involve continuous monitoring over 72 h and will begin with a 36-h at-home period, followed by 24 total hours in the lab (including a 12-h simulated night shift), ending with 12 h at home. The key difference between the three conditions is the intra-shift nap. Condition 1 will involve a simulated 12-h night shift with total sleep deprivation. Condition 2 will involve a simulated 12-h night shift and a 30-min nap opportunity. Condition 3 will involve a simulated 12-h night shift with a 2-h nap opportunity. Our primary outcomes of interest include blunted BP dipping and reduced HRV as measured by the standard deviation of the inter-beat intervals of normal sinus beats. Non-dipping status will be defined as sleep hours BP dip of less than 10%. DISCUSSION Our study will address two indicators of cardiovascular health and determine if shorter or longer duration naps during night shifts have a clinically meaningful impact. TRIAL REGISTRATION ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04469803 . Registered on 9 July 2020.
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Affiliation(s)
- P. Daniel Patterson
- Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, School of Medicine, 3600 Forbes Ave., Iroquois Building, Suite 400A, Pittsburgh, PA 15261 USA
- Division of Community Health Services, Emergency Medicine Program, University of Pittsburgh, School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, Pittsburgh, PA 15261 USA
| | - Leonard S. Weiss
- Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, School of Medicine, 3600 Forbes Ave., Iroquois Building, Suite 400A, Pittsburgh, PA 15261 USA
| | - Matthew D. Weaver
- Division of Sleep and Circadian Disorders, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, MA 02115 USA
- Harvard Medical School, Division of Sleep Medicine, Boston, MA 02115 USA
| | - David D. Salcido
- Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, School of Medicine, 3600 Forbes Ave., Iroquois Building, Suite 400A, Pittsburgh, PA 15261 USA
| | - Samantha E. Opitz
- Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, School of Medicine, 3600 Forbes Ave., Iroquois Building, Suite 400A, Pittsburgh, PA 15261 USA
| | - Tiffany S. Okerman
- Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, School of Medicine, 3600 Forbes Ave., Iroquois Building, Suite 400A, Pittsburgh, PA 15261 USA
- Division of Community Health Services, Emergency Medicine Program, University of Pittsburgh, School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, Pittsburgh, PA 15261 USA
| | - Tanner T. Smida
- Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, School of Medicine, 3600 Forbes Ave., Iroquois Building, Suite 400A, Pittsburgh, PA 15261 USA
| | - Sarah E. Martin
- Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, School of Medicine, 3600 Forbes Ave., Iroquois Building, Suite 400A, Pittsburgh, PA 15261 USA
| | - Francis X. Guyette
- Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, School of Medicine, 3600 Forbes Ave., Iroquois Building, Suite 400A, Pittsburgh, PA 15261 USA
| | - Christian Martin-Gill
- Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, School of Medicine, 3600 Forbes Ave., Iroquois Building, Suite 400A, Pittsburgh, PA 15261 USA
| | - Clifton W. Callaway
- Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, School of Medicine, 3600 Forbes Ave., Iroquois Building, Suite 400A, Pittsburgh, PA 15261 USA
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Harrison EM, Schmied EA, Yablonsky AM, Glickman GL. Implementation of interventions designed to promote healthy sleep and circadian rhythms in shiftworkers. Chronobiol Int 2020; 38:467-479. [PMID: 33327802 DOI: 10.1080/07420528.2020.1845190] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
Shiftwork is a significant risk factor for a host of negative health and safety outcomes, which have been at least partly attributed to disturbances of the circadian timing system. As a result, an entire sub-field of chronobiology has been devoted to developing and evaluating countermeasures for circadian misalignment, sleep disruption, fatigue, and other issues associated with shiftwork. Much of this research takes place under highly controlled laboratory conditions due to the necessity of accurately characterizing individual rhythms, both for intervention design and assessment of efficacy. Applied studies of interventions for shiftworkers are, by their nature, more complicated, often demonstrating less consistent findings. While this, in part, reflects execution under less rigorously controlled conditions, it may also stem from variability in implementation approaches. A systematic review of published studies (through May 2017) of interventions designed to enhance circadian health in shiftworkers was conducted to determine the frequency and quality of the assessment of implementation as well as barriers and enablers to implementation. A search of PubMed, PsychINFO, Web of Science, and CINAHL databases yielded a total of 5368 unique references. After a title and abstract screen, 323 proceeded to full-text review; 68 of those met final criteria for data extraction. Implementation was assessed to some degree in 60.3% of those 68 articles. Where it was assessed, the mean quality score on a scale from 1 to 5 (1 = very little, 3 = moderate, 5 = very in-depth) was 2.56. One or more enablers were identified in just 17 of the 68 studies (25.0%), and barriers in just 18 (26.5%). Implementation of these interventions is a critical but seldom-acknowledged component of their uptake and effectiveness, and we highly recommend that future shiftworker intervention research make an effort to incorporate formalized assessments of implementation and/or hybrid effectiveness-implementation approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth M Harrison
- Center for Circadian Biology, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA.,Leidos, Inc., San Diego, CA, USA.,Health and Behavioral Sciences Department, Naval Health Research Center, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Emily A Schmied
- Leidos, Inc., San Diego, CA, USA.,Health and Behavioral Sciences Department, Naval Health Research Center, San Diego, CA, USA.,School of Public Health, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Abigail M Yablonsky
- Health and Behavioral Sciences Department, Naval Health Research Center, San Diego, CA, USA.,Directorate for Professional Education, Naval Medical Center San Diego, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Gena L Glickman
- Center for Circadian Biology, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA.,Department of Psychiatry and Neuroscience, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD, USA
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Patterson PD, Weaver MD, Guyette FX, Martin‐Gill C. Should public safety shift workers be allowed to nap while on duty? Am J Ind Med 2020; 63:843-850. [PMID: 32761915 PMCID: PMC7540594 DOI: 10.1002/ajim.23164] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2020] [Revised: 07/20/2020] [Accepted: 07/22/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Fatigue and sleep deficiency among public safety personnel are threats to wellness, public and personal safety, and workforce retention. Napping strategies may reduce work-related fatigue, improve safety and health, yet in some public safety organizations it is discouraged or prohibited. Our aim with this commentary is to define intra-shift napping, summarize arguments for and against it, and to outline potential applications of this important fatigue mitigation strategy supported by evidence. We focus our discussion on emergency medical services (EMS); a key component of the public safety system, which is comprised of police, fire, and EMS. The personnel who work in EMS stand to benefit from intra-shift napping due to frequent use of extended duration shifts, a high prevalence of personnel working multiple jobs, and evidence showing that greater than half of EMS personnel report severe fatigue, poor sleep quality, inadequate inter-shift recovery, and excessive daytime sleepiness. The benefits of intra-shift napping include decreased sleepiness and fatigue, improved recovery between shifts, decreased anxiety, and reduced feelings of burnout. Intra-shift napping also mitigates alterations in clinician blood pressure associated with disturbed sleep and shift work. The negative consequences of napping include negative public perception, acute performance deficits stemming from sleep inertia, and the potential costs associated with reduced performance. While there are valid arguments against intra-shift napping, we believe that the available scientific evidence favors it as a key component of fatigue mitigation and workplace wellness. We further believe that these arguments extend beyond EMS to all sectors of public safety.
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Affiliation(s)
- P. Daniel Patterson
- Department of Emergency Medicine, School of Medicine University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Pennsylvania
- Division of Community Health Services, Emergency Medicine Program, School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Pennsylvania
| | - Matthew D. Weaver
- Division of Sleep and Circadian Disorders Brigham and Women's Hospital Boston Massachusetts
- Division of Sleep Medicine Harvard Medical School Boston Massachusetts
| | - Francis X. Guyette
- Department of Emergency Medicine, School of Medicine University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Pennsylvania
| | - Christian Martin‐Gill
- Department of Emergency Medicine, School of Medicine University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Pennsylvania
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Mohd Fauzi MF, Mohd Yusoff H, Mat Saruan NA, Muhamad Robat R, Abdul Manaf MR, Ghazali M. Fatigue and recovery among Malaysian doctors: the role of work-related activities during non-work time. BMJ Open 2020; 10:e036849. [PMID: 32978189 PMCID: PMC7520834 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2020-036849] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES This paper aims to estimate the level of acute fatigue, chronic fatigue and intershift recovery among doctors working at public hospitals in Malaysia and determine their inter-relationship and their association with work-related activities during non-work time. DESIGN Cross-sectional. SETTING Seven core clinical disciplines from seven tertiary public hospitals in Malaysia. PARTICIPANTS Study was conducted among 330 randomly-sampled doctors. Response rate was 80.61% (n=266). RESULTS The mean score of acute fatigue, chronic fatigue and intershift recovery were 68.51 (SD=16.549), 54.60 (SD=21.259) and 37.29 (SD=19.540), respectively. All these scores were out of 100 points each. Acute and chronic fatigue were correlated (r=0.663), and both were negatively correlated with intershift recovery (r=-0.704 and r=-0.670, respectively). Among the work-related activities done during non-work time, work-related ruminations dominated both the more frequent activities and the association with poorer fatigue and recovery outcomes. Rumination on being scolded/violated was found to be positively associated with both acute fatigue (adjusted regression coefficient (Adj.b)=2.190, 95% CI=1.139 to 3.240) and chronic fatigue (Adj.b=5.089, 95% CI=3.876 to 6.303), and negatively associated with recovery (Adj.b=-3.316, 95% CI=-4.516 to -2.117). Doing work task at workplace or attending extra work-related activities such as locum and attending training were found to have negative associations with fatigue and positive associations with recovery. Nevertheless, doing work-related activities at home was positively associated with acute fatigue. In terms of communication, it was found that face-to-face conversation with partner did associate with higher recovery but virtual conversation with partner associated with higher acute fatigue and lower recovery. CONCLUSIONS Work-related ruminations during non-work time were common and associated with poor fatigue and recovery outcomes while overt work activities done at workplace during non-work time were associated with better fatigue and recovery levels. There is a need for future studies with design that allow causal inference to address these relationships.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohd Fadhli Mohd Fauzi
- Department of Community Health, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Cheras, Malaysia
- Occupational and Environmental Health Unit, Selangor State Health Department, Shah Alam, Malaysia
| | - Hanizah Mohd Yusoff
- Department of Community Health, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Cheras, Malaysia
| | - Nur Adibah Mat Saruan
- Department of Community Health, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Cheras, Malaysia
- Occupational and Environmental Health Unit, Selangor State Health Department, Shah Alam, Malaysia
| | - Rosnawati Muhamad Robat
- Occupational and Environmental Health Unit, Selangor State Health Department, Shah Alam, Malaysia
| | - Mohd Rizal Abdul Manaf
- Department of Community Health, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Cheras, Malaysia
| | - Maisarah Ghazali
- Department of Community Health, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Cheras, Malaysia
- Occupational and Environmental Health Unit, Selangor State Health Department, Shah Alam, Malaysia
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Patterson PD, Mountz KA, Agostinelli MG, Weaver MD, Yu YC, Herbert BM, Markosyan MA, Hopkins DR, Alameida AC, Maloney Iii JA, Martin SE, Brassil BN, Martin-Gill C, Guyette FX, Callaway CW, Buysse DJ. Ambulatory blood pressure monitoring among emergency medical services night shift workers. Occup Environ Med 2020; 78:29-35. [PMID: 32847989 DOI: 10.1136/oemed-2020-106459] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2020] [Revised: 07/16/2020] [Accepted: 07/25/2020] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Higher 24-hour blood pressure (BP) and blunted BP dipping during sleep and night-time hours are associated with adverse health outcomes. Night shift work may affect 24-hour BP and dipping patterns, but empirical data in emergency medical services (EMS) clinician shift workers are sparse. We implemented ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) in EMS workers to characterise BP during night shift work versus a non-workday, and sleep versus wake. METHODS Participants worked night shifts. Hourly ABPM and wrist actigraphy (to measure sleep) were collected during two 24-hour periods, one scheduled night shift and one non-workday. Blunted BP dipping was defined as a BP decrease of <10%. RESULTS Of 56 participants, 53 (53.6% female, mean age 26.5 (SD 7.5) years) completed the study. During daytime sleep on a workday, 49.1% of participants had blunted systolic BP (SBP) or diastolic BP (DBP) dipping. During night-time sleep on a non-workday, 25% had blunted SBP dipping and 3.9% blunted DBP dipping. Blunted SBP or DBP dipping occurred among all participants who did not nap during the night shift or who napped <60 min. Blunted SBP dipping occurred in only 14.3% of participants who napped 60-120 min. CONCLUSIONS During night shift work, the BP dipping of EMS shift workers is blunted; however, most who nap for 60 min or longer experience a healthy dip in BP. The potential health consequences of these observations in EMS clinicians warrant further study.
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Affiliation(s)
- P Daniel Patterson
- Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Kristina A Mountz
- Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Michael G Agostinelli
- Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA.,Graduate School of Public Health, Department of Epidemiology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Matthew D Weaver
- Departments of Medicine and Neurology, Brigham and Women's Hospital Division of Sleep and Circadian Disorders, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.,Division of Sleep Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Yi-Chuan Yu
- Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA.,Graduate School of Public Health, Department of Epidemiology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Brandon M Herbert
- Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA.,Graduate School of Public Health, Department of Epidemiology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Mark A Markosyan
- Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - David R Hopkins
- Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Alana C Alameida
- Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA.,Graduate School of Public Health, Department of Epidemiology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - John A Maloney Iii
- Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA.,Graduate School of Public Health, Department of Epidemiology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Sarah E Martin
- Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Bridget N Brassil
- Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA.,Graduate School of Public Health, Department of Epidemiology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Christian Martin-Gill
- Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Francis X Guyette
- Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Clifton W Callaway
- Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Daniel J Buysse
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
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10
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Patterson PD, Weaver MD, Markosyan MA, Moore CG, Guyette FX, Doman JM, Sequeira DJ, Werman HA, Swanson D, Hostler D, Lynch J, Templin MA, Rozario NL, Russo L, Hines L, Swecker K, Runyon MS, Buysse DJ. Impact of shift duration on alertness among air-medical emergency care clinician shift workers. Am J Ind Med 2019; 62:325-336. [PMID: 30734328 DOI: 10.1002/ajim.22956] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/09/2019] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Greater than half of Emergency Medical Services (EMS) shift workers report fatigue at work and most work long duration shifts. We sought to compare the alertness level of EMS shift workers by shift duration. METHODS We used a multi-site, 14-day prospective observational cohort study design of EMS clinician shift workers at four air-medical EMS organizations. The primary outcome was behavioral alertness as measured by psychomotor vigilance tests (PVT) at the start and end of shifts. We stratified shifts by duration (< 24 h and 24 h), night versus day, and examined the impact of intra-shift napping on PVT performance. RESULTS One hundred and twelve individuals participated. The distribution of shifts <24 h and 24 h with complete data were 54% and 46%, respectively. We detected no differences in PVT performance measures stratified by shift duration (P > 0.05). Performance for selected PVT measures (lapses and false starts) was worse on night shifts compared to day shifts (P < 0.05). Performance also worsened with decreasing time between waking from a nap and the end of shift PVT assessment. CONCLUSIONS Deficits in performance in the air-medical setting may be greatest during night shifts and proximal to waking from an intra-shift nap. Future research should examine alertness and performance throughout air-medical shifts, as well as investigate the timing and duration of intra-shift naps on outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- P. Daniel Patterson
- Department of Emergency Medicine; University of Pittsburgh; School of Medicine; Pittsburgh Pennsylvania
- Division of Community Health Services; University of Pittsburgh, School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences; Pittsburgh Pennsylvania
| | - Matthew D. Weaver
- Harvard Medical School, Division of Sleep Medicine, Division of Sleep and Circadian Disorders, Departments of Medicine and Neurology; Brigham and Women's Hospital; Boston Massachusetts
| | - Mark A. Markosyan
- Department of Emergency Medicine; University of Pittsburgh; School of Medicine; Pittsburgh Pennsylvania
- Division of Community Health Services; University of Pittsburgh, School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences; Pittsburgh Pennsylvania
| | - Charity G. Moore
- Department of Physical Therapy; University of Pittsburgh; School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences; Pittsburgh Pennsylvania
| | - Frank X. Guyette
- Department of Emergency Medicine; University of Pittsburgh; School of Medicine; Pittsburgh Pennsylvania
| | - Jack M. Doman
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh; School of Medicine; Pittsburgh Pennsylvania
| | - Denisse J. Sequeira
- Department of Emergency Medicine; University of Pittsburgh; School of Medicine; Pittsburgh Pennsylvania
| | | | - Doug Swanson
- Carolinas HealthCare System; Charlotte North Carolina
| | - David Hostler
- Department of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences; The State University of New York; University at Buffalo; Buffalo New York
| | - Joshua Lynch
- MercyFlight of Western New York; Buffalo New York
- Department of Emergency Medicine; Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences; The State University of New York; University at Buffalo; Buffalo New York
| | | | | | - Lindsey Russo
- Department of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences; The State University of New York; University at Buffalo; Buffalo New York
| | | | | | | | - Daniel J. Buysse
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh; School of Medicine; Pittsburgh Pennsylvania
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11
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Patterson PD, Moore CG, Guyette FX, Doman JM, Weaver MD, Sequeira DJ, Werman HA, Swanson D, Hostler D, Lynch J, Russo L, Hines L, Swecker K, Kroemer AJ, Runyon MS, Buysse DJ. Real-Time Fatigue Mitigation with Air-Medical Personnel: The SleepTrackTXT2 Randomized Trial. PREHOSP EMERG CARE 2018; 23:465-478. [PMID: 30285519 DOI: 10.1080/10903127.2018.1532476] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Objective: The aims of this study were: 1) to determine the short-term impact of the SleepTrackTXT2 intervention on air-medical clinician fatigue during work shifts and 2) determine the longer-term impact on sleep quality over 120 days. Methods: We used a multi-site randomized controlled trial study design with a targeted enrollment of 100 (ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02783027). The intervention was behavioral (non-pharmacological) and participation was scheduled for 120 days. Participation was voluntary. All consented participants answered baseline as well as follow-up surveys. All participants answered text message queries, which assessed self-rated fatigue, sleepiness, concentration, recovery, and hours of sleep. Intervention participants received additional text messages with recommendations for behaviors that can mitigate fatigue. Intervention participants received weekly text messages that promoted sleep. Our analysis was guided by the intent-to-treat principle. For the long-term outcome of interest (sleep quality at 120 days), we used a two-sample t-test on the change in sleep quality to determine the intervention effect. Results: Eighty-three individuals were randomized and 2,828 shifts documented (median shifts per participant =37, IQR 23-49). Seventy-one percent of individuals randomized (n = 59) participated up to the 120-day study period and 52% (n = 43) completed the follow-up survey. Of the 69,530 text messages distributed, participants responded to 61,571 (88.6%). Mean sleep quality at 120 days did not differ from baseline for intervention (p > 0.05) or control group participants (p > 0.05), and did not differ between groups (p > 0.05). There was no change from baseline to 120 days in the proportion with poor sleep quality in either group. Intra-shift fatigue increased (worsened) over the course of 12-hour shifts for participants in both study arms. Fatigue at the end of 12-hour shifts was higher among control group participants than participants in the intervention group (p < 0.05). Pre-shift hours of sleep were often less than 7 hours and did not differ between the groups over time. Conclusions: The SleepTrackTXT2 behavioral intervention showed a positive short-term impact on self-rated fatigue during 12-hour shifts, but did not impact longer duration shifts or have a longer-term impact on sleep quality among air-medical EMS clinicians.
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12
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Patterson PD, Runyon MS, Higgins JS, Weaver MD, Teasley EM, Kroemer AJ, Matthews ME, Curtis BR, Flickinger KL, Xun X, Bizhanova Z, Weiss PM, Condle JP, Renn ML, Sequeira DJ, Coppler PJ, Lang ES, Martin-Gill C. Shorter Versus Longer Shift Durations to Mitigate Fatigue and Fatigue-Related Risks in Emergency Medical Services Personnel and Related Shift Workers: A Systematic Review. PREHOSP EMERG CARE 2018; 22:28-36. [PMID: 29324079 DOI: 10.1080/10903127.2017.1376135] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND This study comprehensively reviewed the literature on the impact of shorter versus longer shifts on critical and important outcomes for Emergency Medical Services (EMS) personnel and related shift worker groups. METHODS Six databases (e.g., PubMed/MEDLINE) were searched, including one website. This search was guided by a research question developed by an expert panel a priori and registered with the PROSPERO database of systematic reviews (2016:CRD42016040099). The critical outcomes of interest were patient safety and personnel safety. The important outcomes of interest were personnel performance, acute fatigue, sleep and sleep quality, retention/turnover, long-term health, burnout/stress, and cost to system. Screeners worked independently and full-text articles were assessed for relevance. Data abstracted from the retained literature were categorized as favorable, unfavorable, mixed/inconclusive, or no impact toward the shorter shift duration. This research characterized the evidence as very low, low, moderate, or high quality according to the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) methodology. RESULTS The searched yielded n = 21,674 records. Of the 480 full-text articles reviewed, 100 reported comparisons of outcomes of interest by shift duration. We identified 24 different shift duration comparisons, most commonly 8 hours versus 12 hours. No one study reported findings for all 9 outcomes. Two studies reported findings linked to both critical outcomes of patient and personnel safety, 34 reported findings for one of two critical outcomes, and 64 did not report findings for critical outcomes. Fifteen studies were grouped to compare shifts <24 hours versus shifts ≥24 hours. None of the findings for the critical outcomes of patient and personnel safety were categorized as unfavorable toward shorter duration shifts (<24 hours). Nine studies were favorable toward shifts <24 hours for at least one of the 7 important outcomes, while findings from one study were categorized as unfavorable. Evidence quality was low or very low. CONCLUSIONS The quality of existing evidence on the impact of shift duration on fatigue and fatigue-related risks is low or very low. Despite these limitations, this systematic review suggests that for outcomes considered critical or important to EMS personnel, shifts <24 hours in duration are more favorable than shifts ≥24 hours.
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13
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Hughes AM, Patterson PD, Weaver MD, Gregory ME, Sonesh SC, Landsittel DP, Krackhardt D, Hostler D, Lazzara EH, Wang X, Vena JE, Salas E, Yealy DM. Teammate Familiarity, Teamwork, and Risk of Workplace Injury in Emergency Medical Services Teams. J Emerg Nurs 2017; 43:339-346. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jen.2016.11.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2016] [Revised: 10/31/2016] [Accepted: 11/22/2016] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
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14
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Patterson PD, Moore CG, Guyette FX, Doman JM, Sequeira D, Werman HA, Swanson D, Hostler D, Lynch J, Russo L, Hines L, Swecker K, Runyon MS, Buysse DJ. Fatigue mitigation with SleepTrackTXT2 in air medical emergency care systems: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial. Trials 2017; 18:254. [PMID: 28583143 PMCID: PMC5460424 DOI: 10.1186/s13063-017-1999-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2016] [Accepted: 05/19/2017] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Most air medical Emergency Medical Services (EMS) clinicians work extended duration shifts, and more than 50% report inadequate sleep, poor sleep quality, and/or poor recovery between shifts. The SleepTrackTXT pilot trial (ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT02063737) showed that use of mobile phone text messages could impact EMS clinician self-reported fatigue and sleepiness during long duration shifts. The purpose of the SleepTrackTXT2 trial is to leverage lessons learned from the first SleepTrackTXT study and test an enhanced intervention targeting air medical EMS clinicians. Methods/design We will conduct a multi-site randomized trial with a sample of adult EMS clinicians recruited from four air medical EMS systems located in the midwest, northeastern, and southern USA. Participants will be allocated to one of two possible arms for a 4-month (120-day) study period. The intervention arm will involve text-message assessments of sleepiness, fatigue, and difficulty concentrating at the beginning, every 4 hours during, and at the end of scheduled shifts. Participants reporting high levels of sleepiness, fatigue, or difficulty with concentration will receive one of nine randomly selected intervention messages to promote behavior change during shift work to improve alertness. Intervention participants will receive a text-message report on Friday of each week that shows their sleep debt over the previous 7 days followed by a text message to promote paying back sleep debt recovery when feasible. Participants in the control group receive text messages that only include assessments. Both arms will receive text-message assessments of perceived recovery since last shift, sleepiness, fatigue, or difficulty with concentration at noon (1200 hours) on days between scheduled shifts (off-duty days). We have two aims for this study: (1) to determine the short-term impact of the enhanced SleepTrackTXT2 intervention on air medical clinician fatigue reported in real time during and at the end of shift work, and (2) to determine the long-term impact of the SleepTrackTXT2 intervention on sleep quality and sleep health indicators including hours of sleep and recovery between shift work. Discussion The SleepTrackTXT2 trial may provide evidence of real-world effectiveness that would support widespread expansion of fatigue mitigation interventions in emergency care clinician shift workers. The trial may specifically support use of real-time assessments and interventions delivered via mobile technology such as text messaging. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT02783027. Registered on 23 May 2016. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s13063-017-1999-z) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- P Daniel Patterson
- Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, School of Medicine, 3600 Forbes Avenue, Iroquois Bldg, Suite 400A, Pittsburgh, PA, 15260, USA.
| | | | - Frank X Guyette
- Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, School of Medicine, 3600 Forbes Avenue, Iroquois Bldg, Suite 400A, Pittsburgh, PA, 15260, USA
| | - Jack M Doman
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh, School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Denisse Sequeira
- Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, School of Medicine, 3600 Forbes Avenue, Iroquois Bldg, Suite 400A, Pittsburgh, PA, 15260, USA
| | | | - Doug Swanson
- MedCenter Air, Department of Emergency Medicine, Carolinas HealthCare System, Charlotte, NC, USA
| | - David Hostler
- Department of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, The State University of New York, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, USA
| | - Joshua Lynch
- MercyFlight of Western New York, Buffalo, NY, USA.,Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, USA
| | - Lindsey Russo
- Department of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, The State University of New York, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, USA
| | | | | | - Michael S Runyon
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Carolinas HealthCare System, Charlotte, NC, USA
| | - Daniel J Buysse
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh, School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
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15
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Weaver MD, Patterson PD, Fabio A, Moore CG, Freiberg MS, Songer TJ. An observational study of shift length, crew familiarity, and occupational injury and illness in emergency medical services workers. Occup Environ Med 2015; 72:798-804. [PMID: 26371071 DOI: 10.1136/oemed-2015-102966] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2015] [Accepted: 08/06/2015] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Emergency medical services (EMS) clinicians are shift workers deployed in two-person teams. Extended shift duration, workplace fatigue, poor sleep and lack of familiarity with teammates are common in the EMS workforce and may contribute to workplace injury. We sought to examine the relationship between shift length and occupational injury while controlling for relevant shift work and teamwork factors. METHODS We obtained 3 years of shift schedules and occupational injury and illness reports were from 14 large EMS agencies. We abstracted shift length and additional scheduling and team characteristics from shift schedules. We matched occupational injury and illness reports to shift records and used hierarchical logistic regression models to test the relationship between shift length and occupational injury and illness while controlling for teammate familiarity. RESULTS The cohort contained 966,082 shifts, 4382 employees and 950 outcome reports. Risk of occupational injury and illness was lower for shifts ≤8 h in duration (RR 0.70; 95% CI 0.51 to 0.96) compared with shifts >8 and ≤12 h. Relative to shifts >8 and ≤12 h, risk of injury was 60% greater (RR 1.60; 95% CI 1.22 to 2.10) for employees that worked shifts >16 and ≤24 h. CONCLUSIONS Shift length is associated with increased risk of occupational injury and illness in this sample of EMS shift workers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew D Weaver
- Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA Division of Sleep and Circadian Disorders, Departments of Medicine and Neurology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA Division of Sleep Medicine, Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - P Daniel Patterson
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Carolinas HealthCare System Medical Center, Charlotte, North Carolina, USA
| | - Anthony Fabio
- Department of Epidemiology, University of Pittsburgh, Graduate School of Public Health, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Charity G Moore
- Dickson Advance Analytics Group, Carolinas HealthCare System, Charlotte, North Carolina, USA
| | - Matthew S Freiberg
- Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University, School of Medicine, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
| | - Thomas J Songer
- Department of Epidemiology, University of Pittsburgh, Graduate School of Public Health, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
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