A study developed by a group of experts from the University of Missouri (United States) has demonstrated that "a small change in schedules has great benefits for the health of doctors who work the night shift."
The head of the Department of Emergency Medicine at the School of Medicine, Dr. Matthew Robinson, explained that his interest arose from reviewing numerous previous studies that pointed out that night shift professionals have a higher risk of suffering from cardiovascular diseases, cancer, and premature death.
With this concern in mind, the team analyzed emergency doctors who regularly alternate different shifts. Instead of maintaining the usual schedule from 10 PM to 6 AM, during the night rotations, the work hours were modified to 8 PM to 4 AM, as detailed in the work published in the specialized journal 'The American Journal of Emergency Medicine.'
Thanks to this modification, the authors found that "a simple change in schedules can improve the health and well-being of doctors who work night shifts." As they point out, "the earlier schedule led to measurable improvements in sleep quality and in biomarkers associated with inflammation."
In this regard, the researchers highlight that "this schedule allowed doctors to sleep more during traditional nighttime hours, which helped synchronize their sleep with the body's natural circadian rhythm," reminding that previous work had already linked "disruptions of that internal rhythm with higher rates of inflammation and a greater risk of heart disease, diabetes, and burnout."
Impact of the circadian rhythm on health
The central objective of the study has been to clarify whether a relatively small adjustment of the schedule could translate into real benefits for the health of doctors who work at night in a demanding hospital environment. Robinson emphasizes that the disruption of the circadian rhythm "is an important issue from the perspective of well-being."
In the words of the specialist himself, "if we can gather data that demonstrates that modifying the night shift schedule really improves the health of our doctors, perhaps this change can be implemented more widely in the healthcare sector and in others with night workers."
To support these conclusions, scientists measured different biomarkers linked to inflammation, such as white blood cell and platelet counts, before and after applying the new shift schedule. The team recalls that high levels of these indicators are associated with greater inflammation and a higher risk of chronic health problems.
According to the authors, "both markers decreased after the doctors adopted the previous schedule, which suggests that the change in schedule may reduce inflammation," and they add that "after changing their schedules, the doctors experienced more restorative sleep, which helped them feel more rested and revitalized."
Finally, Robinson has pointed out that "the schedule change allowed them to be awake longer during the day, which in turn gave them more time for social activities and to be with family, something fundamental for having a fulfilling life," and has advanced his intention to promote broader research to assess whether these improvements associated with the new schedule could also extend to nurses.