Shift Work Disorder and Related Health Problems Among Health Staff in a Hospital

Abstract

Shift work can lead to work disorder and negative impacts on sleep, monitoring, food intake, competency, emotions, and family activities. Staff working in hospitals may experience parasomnia, impaired mood, headache, weight loss, anxiety, tiredness, premature aging, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, irritable bowel syndrome, and cognitive disturbances. These health issues are caused by the impairment of internal bio-rhythms characterized as dysfunctional sleep. Shift work also undermines job performance and increases the risk of failure. It is important to recognize and address shift work disorders among health workers.