• Catherine DeMoss, Michael McGrail, Erhard Haus, A Lauren Crain, and Stephen E Asche.
• The HealthPartners Institute of Medical Education, Midwest Center of Occupational Health and Safety Occupational and Environmental Medicine Residency Program, Regions Hospital, 640 Jackson Street, St. Paul, MN 55101, USA.
• J. Occup. Environ. Med. 2004 Dec 1; 46 (12): 1278-81.

ObjectivesTo assess the impact of shift work on health care workers.Subjects And MethodsA cross-sectional study assessed health and performance markers of 188 day and night shift nonphysician health care workers.ResultsNight-shift workers were more likely to report difficulty with routine orders, lower energy levels, unpredictable work schedules, and sleep disturbance but no difference with injuries or motor vehicle crashes. A classification of day shift, night shift without unpredictable schedule or sleep problems, and night shift with unpredictable schedule or sleep problems revealed a trend of increased difficulty with routine orders, suggesting a "dose response effect."ConclusionsFindings suggest an association with night shift health care workers and adverse health and performance markers. A "higher-risk" subgroup may benefit from targeted interventions to reduce potential adverse effects from shift work and improve health care delivery.

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