Does work shift affect workers' sleep quality? a systematic review

Abstract

Shift work in industry negatively affects the circadian cycle, resulting in impaired sleep quality (SQ), increased fatigue, attention deficits, and consequently reduced productivity and work performance. The aim of this study was to determine whether shift work affects the SQ of industrial workers, using the Pittsburg Scale as an assessment tool. This is a systematic review conducted according to the PRISMA guideline. It included studies that used the Pittsburgh scale to assess SQ, stratified the sample by work shift, written in English, original, and published in the last five years.  A total of 276 studies were found, but three studies (Germany, India, and Australia) made up the review. Two of the studies reported worsening SQ in workers. The workers were aged between 18 and 41 years, and the daytime Pittsburgh scale scores ranged from 5.7 to 8.8 points, and the nighttime worker scores ranged from 3.6 to 7.8 points. The results were inconclusive, although two studies showed worse SQ in workers who perform their duties on different shifts.