• Korean Journal of Occupational Health Nursing
• /
• v.9 no.2
• /
• pp.86-93
• /
• 2000

This study was conducted to find out the degree of tiredness, accumulated tendencies of fatigues in accordance with 3 types of circadian rhythms and 3 types of perceived fatigue signs such as physical, psychological and neurosensory aspects in before and after work at night. Samples were chosen from the 217 intensive care units nurses working in 13 general hospitals which had 3 shift rotating systems, Data were collected from November to December in 1999. Two hundreds seventeen respondents were classified by 3 circadian types such as 59 morning, 110 middle and 48 evening. Circadian type was measured by the circadian type scale which was designed by ${\ddot{O}}stberg$ and Home (1976). in order to estimate the level of tiredness, the investigator used the fatigue checklist designed by the Labor and Health Institute of Japan(1970). Analysis was done by frequency a percentages, ${\chi}^2$ test and repeated measures ANOVA test. The result of this study were as follow: 1. In the general characteristics of the subjects circadian types, moderate type had the large proportion at 50.7% and morning type had 27.2% and evening type had 22.1%. 2. According to the 3 types of fatigue signs, the highest general tendency was 'General weakness' and 'Feeling of headsore' for physically perceived sign, 'Drowsiness' for psychological sign, and 'Uncomfortableness in sight seeing' for neurosensory sign. 3. The most frequently complained fatigue were observed in physical symptoms among physical, mental, and neurosensual symptoms. The percentage of complained was higher after night work than before the work started. 4. There was not any statistical significant difference between the circadian type and the degree of physical, mental, neurosensory fatigue. 5. There was not any statistical significant difference in regarding to each date of night shift except difference between 1st and 2nd days of fatigue perceived physically. Therefore, the study concluded that the fatigue perceived by night shift nurses might be related with shift working condition rather than circadian types.

• Journal of Korean Clinical Nursing Research
• /
• v.25 no.2
• /
• pp.107-119
• /
• 2019

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the welfare status of nurses and the status of fixed night shifts and flexible work arrangements in both general hospitals and advanced general hospitals in Korea. Methods: A total of 167 hospitals participated in this study, done from April to October 2018. Results: There were 103 hospitals utilizing the fixed night shift system, 22 in the two-shift system, 3 in the fixed holiday shift, 79 in the fixed shift system, and 39 in the short-time working system. The average welfare benefits for nurses increased to 33.02 million won on average. However, welfare services for the nurses were poor: 41.8% of the respondents had a nurses' lounge, 81.7% were given dormitory space at their place of employment, 41.8% had access to welfare facilities, and 56.4% were provided with welfare support countermeasures. Conclusion: The results show an increasing trend of hospitals to utilize fixed night shift and flexible work arrangements. An institutional strategy at the national policy level should be established to implement flexible work arrangements including the fixed night shift system, which has a poor level of welfare.

• Sleep Medicine and Psychophysiology
• /
• v.9 no.1
• /
• pp.41-47
• /
• 2002

Objectives: In a number of simulated night shift studies, timed exposure to bright light improves sleep quality and work performance. We evaluated the effect of bright light on adaptation to night shift work with a field study. Methods: Five female nurses working shifts at Korea University Hospital were recruited for participation in this study. We investigated two series of six consecutive shift rotations comprising three day and three night shifts, using wrist Actigraphy, the Stanford Sleepiness Scale, Visual-analogue scales, STIM and tympanic membrane temperature for daytime sleep quality, alertness, subjective feeling, attention performance, and temperature rhythm. The subjects were exposed to bright light (2,500 lux) from 24:00 to 04:00 a.m. on three consecutive night shifts during the second series, whereas they worked under normal lightening (650 lux) conditions during the first series. Results: Actigraphic assessment of daytime sleep showed no significant difference between the first and third night shift in both baseline and light exposure phase. The mean lowest temperature shifted earlier during baseline phase but not during the light exposure phase. Also, the score for subjective feelings of depression, anxiety, physical discomfort and sleepiness was significantly higher in the third night shift than the first during baseline phase but not during the light exposure phase. Attention and attention switching ability was significantly improved in the third night shift compared to the first night during the light exposure phase but there were no significant changes during the baseline phase. Conclusion: This result suggests that there were no significant differences between the two phases in measures of quality of daytime sleep, but subjective feelings, attention and alertness were enhanced during light exposure. Although some placebo effects and learning effects might influence this result, bright light exposure between midnight and 4:00 a.m. may improve adaptation to night shift. In future, further controlled studies with a larger sample size, including melatonin measurement, are needed for real shift workers.

• Korean journal of aerospace and environmental medicine
• /
• v.30 no.2
• /
• pp.61-65
• /
• 2020

In the case of aviation maintenance work, several kinds of shift works are performed during day and night, and a lot of works are performed on the ramp due to the characteristics of the aircraft flight schedule. Maintenance workers are often exposed to the sun or in cold temperatures for aircraft maintenance works. The fatigue risk of the maintenance workers will be weighted. In particular, the work at night shift under normal biological rhythms can make maintenance workers feel sleepy during daytime work. It can also affect the safety of aircraft and individual workers. Accordingly, this study will consider fatigue-related previous researches in the field of aviation maintenance, review the effects of shift work, and how fatigue affects aviation mechanics during the day/night shifts. Considering these factors, we tried to present a plan that can minimize the fatigue of aviation workers through this study.

• Sleep Medicine and Psychophysiology
• /
• v.6 no.1
• /
• pp.68-75
• /
• 1999

Objectives: We intended to observe changes in sleep patterns and mood states of night-shift workers following light exposure. We also estimated the degree of tolerance of light exposure. By studying these, we investigated the possibility of applying light therapy to night-shift workers for improving their adaptation. Methods: Twelve night-shift nurses working at Yong-In Mental Hospital volunteered to participate in this study. The study consisted of 3 parts: 1) night-shift control study; 2) light exposure study; 3) day-shift control study. All the nurses accomplished 3 parts of the study, each of which continued for 3 days, except one nurse who did not participate in day-shift control study. During light exposure study, nurses were exposed to bright light for 4 hours from 1AM to 5AM. Sleep patterns were evaluated with wrist actigraphy and automatic sleep analysis program. Mood states and side effects of light exposure were assessed with self-report scales. Results: Sleep period time, total sleep time, and sleep efficiency were increased following light exposure compared with night-shift control study. Light exposure study showed no difference from day-shift control study in above-mentioned sleep parameters. Daily fluctuation of sleep efficiency was less prominent during light exposure study than during night-shift control study. During light exposure study, the subjects felt more elated and energetic in the evening after daytime sleep than during night-shift control study. None of the subjects complained of severe side effects related to light exposure on the third day of light exposure. Tolerance of side effects was noted to develop with the repetition of light exposure. Conclusion: Light exposure improved the daytime sleep of night-shift workers to the level of normal nighttime sleep, making the subjects more elated and energetic. Side effects of light exposure were found to be tolerable. Light exposure seems to be safely applicable to night-shift workers for their adaptation.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
• /
• v.28 no.4
• /
• pp.869-880
• /
• 1998

In order to investigate of the effects of rapid rotating shift work on physiological stress, the activities of urinary Na$^{+}$, $K^{+}$, Cl$^{[-10]}$ were measured in 14 rotational shift nurses, during day shifts(8AM-4PM, n=4), evening shifts(4PM-l2MN, n=5), and night shifts(12MN-8AM, n=5) in hospital twenty students attending nursing college a used as a control group. Urine specimens were collected in 30 minutes before and after work on the second day of shift work. In day shift nurses, Na$^{+}$ activity was 137mM at 8AM and increased to 206mM at 4PM, whereas $K^{+}$ activity was 42mM at 8AM and no significant change at 4PM. Cl$^{[-10]}$ activity was changed from 234mM to 344mM at 4PM at 8AM. In the evening shift, Na$^{+}$ activity was 117mM at 4PM and 140mM at 12MN, $K^{+}$ activity was 22mM and 32mM, respectively. Cl$^{[-10]}$ activity was 169mM and changed to 270mM. During the night shift, Na$^{+}$ activity was 128mM at 12MN and changed to 161mM at 8AM, $K^{+}$ activity was 42mM at 12MN and 8AM, and Cl$^{[-10]}$ activity was from 303mM and changed to 355mM. In general, the urinary ion activities seemed to increase after work, however there were no significant changes in ion activities except the Na$^{+}$ increase in day shift. The mean of the activities of $K^{+}$ and Cl$^{[-10]}$ before and after work during the day and night shift were significantly higher than those in control group (P＜0.05). $K^{+}$ activities were also higher than that of evening shift(P＜0.05). However, there was no difference in Na$^{+}$ activity among the control group and three shifts. There was a significant relationship among urinary Na$^{+}$, Cl$^{[-10]}$ and $K^{+}$ in the control group and rotating shift nurses except between Na$^{+}$ and $K^{+}$ in shift. The relationship between Na$^{+}$ and Cl$^{[-10]}$ was low in shift work and there was no significant relationship between Na$^{+}$ and $K^{+}$ in shift, suggesting that the active regulation $K^{+}$ and/or Na$^{+}$ in response to stress upon the shift work disruped the ratio of urinary Na$^{+}$ to $K^{+}$ and also lowered the relationship between $K^{+}$ and Cl$^{[-10]}$ . These results suggest that nurses working the day shift were overloaded and under stress, and the night shift interfered with the physiological rhythm of the nurses.red with the physiological rhythm of the nurses.

• Safety and Health at Work
• /
• v.9 no.2
• /
• pp.203-209
• /
• 2018

Background: Night shift work is associated with many problems such as sleep deprivation, sleepiness, decreased cognitive performance, increased human errors, and fatigue. This study set out to measure cognitive performance, melatonin rhythms, and sleep after different consecutive night shifts (7 vs. 4) among control room operators (CORs). Methods: The participants included 60 CORs with a mean age of 30.2 years (standard deviation, 2.0) from a petrochemical complex located in Southern Iran. Cognitive performance was assessed using the n-back task and continuous performance test. To evaluate melatonin, saliva was collected and tested by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. To assess sleep and sleepiness, the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index and Karolinska Sleepiness Scale were used, respectively. Results: Individuals who worked 7 consecutive night shifts had a significantly better cognitive performance and sleep quality than those who worked 4 consecutive night shifts. However, salivary melatonin profile and sleepiness trend were not affected by shift type. Conclusion: The main duty of CORs working night shifts at the studied industry included managing safety-critical processes through complex displays; a responsibility that demands good cognitive performance and alertness. It is suggested that an appropriate number of consecutive night shifts in a rotating shift system should be planned with the ultimate aim of improving CROs performance/alertness and enhancing safety.

• Journal of Korean Society of Industrial and Systems Engineering
• /
• v.23 no.57
• /
• pp.1-10
• /
• 2000

The purpose of this paper is to propose a method of rest to reduce work load of night shift workers for night shift work. The experiment was carried out 10minutes preparing time, 45minutes first work, 10minutes first rest, 45minutes second work, 10minutes second rest between 2 and 4 o'clock that the lowest physiological function of workers. The methods of rest set up as four patterns (1) non-action rest (2) non-action rest + listening music (3) action rest + non-action rest, (4) action rest + non-action rest + listening music. For the measurements of experiment, heart rates(R-R interval), critical flicker fusion frequency(CFF), blood pressure, oral temperature, reaction time and error rates were considered as criteria for work performance. As a result, action rest + non-action rest and action rest + non-action rest + listening music were more effective to reduce work load additional work than non-action rest and non-action rest + listening music.

• Safety and Health at Work
• /
• v.10 no.1
• /
• pp.109-113
• /
• 2019

Background: In both developed and developing countries, noise is regarded as the most common occupational hazard in various industries. The present study aimed to examine the effect of sound pressure level (SPL) on serum cortisol concentration in three different times during the night shift. Methods: This case-control study was conducted among 75 workers of an industrial and mining firm in 2017. The participants were assigned to one of the three groups (one control and two case groups), with an equal number of workers (25 participants) in each group. Following the ISO 9612 standard, dosimetry was adopted to evaluate equivalent SPL using a TES-1345 dosimeter. The influence of SPL on serum cortisol concentration was measured during the night shift. The serum cortisol concentration was measured using a radioimmunoassay (RIA) test in the laboratory. Repeated measure analysis of variance and linear mixed models were used with ${\alpha}=0.05$. Results: The results indicated a downward trend in the serum cortisol concentration of the three groups during the night shift. Both SPL and exposure time significantly affected cortisol concentration (p < 0.0001, p < 0.0001). Conversely, age and body mass index had no significant influence on cortisol concentration (p = 0.360, p = 0.62). Conclusion: Based on the obtained results, increasing SPL will lead to enhancement of serum cortisol concentration. Given that cortisol concentration varies while workers are exposed to different SPLs, this hormone can be used as a biomarker to study the effect of noise-induced stress.

• Safety and Health at Work
• /
• v.6 no.1
• /
• pp.25-29
• /
• 2015

Background: Shift work has been associated with occupational stress in health providers and in those working in some industrial companies. The association is not well established in the law enforcement workforce. Our objective was to examine the association between shift work and police work-related stress. Methods: The number of stressful events that occurred in the previous month and year was obtained using the Spielberger Police Stress Survey among 365 police officers aged 27-66 years. Work hours were derived from daily payroll records. A dominant shift (day, afternoon, or night) was defined for each participant as the shift with the largest percentage of total time a participant worked (starting time from 4:00 AM to 11:59 AM, from 12 PM to 7:59 PM, and from 8:00 PM to 3:59 AM for day, afternoon, and night shift, respectively) in the previous month or year. Analysis of variance and covariance were used to examine the number of total and subscale (administrative/professional pressure, physical/psychological danger, or organizational support) stressful events across the shift. Results: During the previous month and year, officers working the afternoon and night shifts reported more stressful events than day shift officers for total stress, administrative/professional pressure, and physical/psychological danger (p < 0.05). These differences were independent of age, sex, race/ethnicity, and police rank. The frequency of these stressful events did not differ significantly between officers working the afternoon and night shifts. Conclusion: Non-day shift workers may be exposed to more stressful events in this cohort. Interventions to reduce or manage police stress that are tailored by shift may be considered.