Abstract

Background: Shift work is an essential component of hospital services; however, it is associated with disruption of circadian rhythm, poor sleep quality, and adverse health outcomes. Nurses and allied health staff are particularly vulnerable due to rotating and night-duty schedules, which may negatively affect their quality of life and work performance.

Objective: To assess the impact of shift work on sleep quality, daytime sleepiness, caffeine consumption, and quality of life among nurses and allied health staff at Ayub Teaching Hospital, Abbottabad, Pakistan.

Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted over a three-month period from 11 June to 10 September, 2020, at Ayub Teaching Hospital, Abbottabad. A total of 200 participants were enrolled using convenience sampling, including 100 shift workers and 100 day-only staff. Data were collected through structured interviews using validated instruments: the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS), and World Health Organization Quality of Life-BREF (WHOQOL-BREF). Descriptive statistics and multiple regression analyses were performed to identify factors associated with sleep quality and quality of life.

Results: Shift workers demonstrated significantly poorer sleep quality compared to day-only staff, with higher mean PSQI scores (8.5 vs. 5.2; p < 0.001). Daytime sleepiness was also significantly greater among shift workers, with higher ESS scores (12.6 vs. 8.4; p < 0.001). Quality of life scores were lower in all WHOQOL-BREF domains among shift workers, particularly in physical and psychological health domains. Additionally, shift workers reported significantly higher daily caffeine consumption (190.4 mg/day vs. 110.2 mg/day; p < 0.001). Multiple regression analysis identified shift work as a significant predictor of poor sleep quality and reduced quality of life, along with body mass index and ward intensity.

Conclusion: Shift work is significantly associated with poor sleep quality, increased daytime sleepiness, higher caffeine intake, and reduced quality of life among nurses and allied health staff. Interventions such as optimized shift scheduling, promotion of healthy sleep practices, and institutional support programs are recommended to mitigate the adverse effects of shift work.