Abstract
Objectives: The study aimed to clarify whether cognitive and psychomotor performance, which are important for occupational and traffic safety, are impaired by working permanent night shifts (NSs) compared with early–late two shifts (TSs) and whether age and chronobiological type influences the relationship between shift and performance. Methods: The study included 44 male automobile workers, 20 working TSs and 24 working NSs. Chronobiological type was determined by questionnaire (D-MEQ). Each subject was tested at the beginning and end of the shift for alertness [by a visual analogue scale (VAS)]; feeling of well-being (Basler); concentration and accuracy (d2); reaction speed, orientation and reaction to stress (Vienna System). Results: TS workers were more frequently morning types whereas the NS workers were more frequently evening types. In the performance tests, the TS and NS workers did not differ at shift start or shift end. Over the course of the shift, concentration and accuracy improved in both groups, as did reaction to stress. Chronobiological type alone or in combination with shift type had no effect on performance. Conclusions: The results of this study indicate that—if chosen voluntarily—working NSs has no immediate negative effects on cognitive and psychomotor performance when compared with working TSs. There was no indication of an increased risk of accidents after working NSs. The unequal distribution of the circadian types in the shift groups may indicate selection.
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Acknowledgements
The study was supported by a grant from the German Academic Exchange Service for Raluca Petru. We thank Prof. Griefahn for providing the D-MEQ. We also thank AUDI AG for allowing us access to their health centre and for releasing their workers from their duties for the investigations that made this study possible. No other financial support was provided by AUDI AG, either for the study or for the authors directly. The help of Joachim Stork, MD, is deeply appreciated.
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Petru, R., Wittmann, M., Nowak, D. et al. Effects of working permanent night shifts and two shifts on cognitive and psychomotor performance. Int Arch Occup Environ Health 78, 109–116 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00420-004-0585-3
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00420-004-0585-3