Physical and Psychological Problems Associated with Shiftworking in Nurses of Mazandaran Province, 2017

Nurses are in face with physical and psychological problems associated with the shift-work. Therefore, the maintenance of their health seems to be necessary in order to protect workforces and adverse effects on the health and safety of patients. The purpose of this study was determining the prevalence of physical and psychological health problems among nurses and their relation with the shift-working.

This cross-sectional study was performed on 465 shift-work nurses in three hospitals in Mazandaran province in 2017 using the SOS (survey of shift work) questionnaire. Data analysis was performed using descriptive statistics and logistic regression model using SPSS version 24 software.

The results of the current study showed that complaints of physical problems including cardiovascular, musculoskeletal and gastrointestinal disorders were 12.3%, 45.8%, 28.6%, respectively, and the complaints of psychological problems were 30.8%. Chi-square analysis results showed that cardiovascular disorders have significant relation with marital status, the number of children, work experience in the shift-working system, and the type of shift-work system (p<0.05). Also, logistic regression results indicated that work experience in the shift-work system and the average sleep time affect the incidence of cardiovascular and skeletal-muscular problems.

Based on the results, there was a significant relationship between shift-work and the physical and psychological problems among nurses. The reduction of shift-working times and preparing the favorite places to rest during the shift-time can protect nurses against abovementioned problems.