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The impact of shiftwork on health: a literature review

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  • Annabel Matheson
  • Louise O'Brien
  • Jo‐Anne Reid

Abstract

Aims and objectives To identify the impact of shiftwork on individuals and their lives and to discuss the implications this has for nurses and nursing. Background The context of shiftwork in the early 21st century is changing rapidly, and those involved in or required to work shiftwork are now spread over many different sectors of the community. In the Australian community, 16% of workers regularly work shiftwork. Most nurses undertake shiftwork at some time in their career, and health services could not operate without a shiftworking nursing workforce. Design Narrative literature review. Methods A narrative review of journal articles was conducted. Databases searched were CINAHL, EBSCO Host, JSTOR, Medline/PubMed and Google Scholar. Search terms used were ‘shiftwork’ and ‘shift work’. Limitations included ‘English language’, ‘published between 1980–2013’ and ‘human’. Results Reviewed for this paper were 118 studies that met the inclusion criteria. Results were categorised using thematic analysis. Themes that emerged were physical and psychosocial health, and sleep. Findings will be explored under these themes. Conclusions Shiftwork research has mainly focussed on the physiological and psychosocial health and sleep effects. Absent from the literature are studies focussing on the personal experience of the shiftworker and how workers mediate the effects of shiftwork and how shiftwork fits into the rest of their lives. Therefore, it is difficult to draw conclusions about how people ‘manage’ their shiftwork, and further research needs to be undertaken in this area. Relevance to clinical practice Working shifts for nurses is a reality that comes with the profession. While there is a significant body of research on shiftwork, little of this has been specifically applied to nursing, and the implications for individual nurses needing to care for their own health have not been drawn.

Suggested Citation

  • Annabel Matheson & Louise O'Brien & Jo‐Anne Reid, 2014. "The impact of shiftwork on health: a literature review," Journal of Clinical Nursing, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 23(23-24), pages 3309-3320, December.
  • Handle: RePEc:wly:jocnur:v:23:y:2014:i:23-24:p:3309-3320
    DOI: 10.1111/jocn.12524
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Gordon, N.P. & Cleary, P.D. & Parker, C.E. & Czeisler, C.A., 1986. "The prevalence and health impact of shiftwork," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 76(10), pages 1225-1228.
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    1. Shu‐Hua Shen & Miaofen Yen & Shou‐Lin Yang & Chiung‐Ying Lee, 2016. "Insomnia, anxiety, and heart rate variability among nurses working different shift systems in Taiwan," Nursing & Health Sciences, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 18(2), pages 223-229, June.
    2. Veruscka Leso & Ilaria Vetrani & Alessandra Sicignano & Rosaria Romano & Ivo Iavicoli, 2020. "The Impact of Shift-Work and Night Shift-Work on Thyroid: A Systematic Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(5), pages 1-17, February.
    3. Eun‐Ho Ha, 2015. "Attitudes towards rotating shift work in clinical nurses: a Q‐methodology study," Journal of Clinical Nursing, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 24(17-18), pages 2488-2497, September.
    4. Xiaoyue Gao & Lili Jiang & Yinqing Hu & Li Li & Lili Hou, 2020. "Nurses’ experiences regarding shift patterns in isolation wards during the COVID‐19 pandemic in China: A qualitative study," Journal of Clinical Nursing, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 29(21-22), pages 4270-4280, November.
    5. Hanne Irene Jensen & Jette West Larsen & Tina Damgaard Thomsen, 2018. "The impact of shift work on intensive care nurses’ lives outside work: A cross‐sectional study," Journal of Clinical Nursing, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 27(3-4), pages 703-709, February.
    6. Annabel Matheson & Louise O’Brien & Jo‐Anne Reid, 2019. "Women's experience of shiftwork in nursing whilst caring for children: A juggling act," Journal of Clinical Nursing, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 28(21-22), pages 3817-3826, November.

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