The Impact of Sleep Deprivation on Work Performance towards Night-shift Healthcare Workers: An Evidence-based Case Report

  • Muhammad Habiburrahman Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Indonesia, Jakarta, Indonesia https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6372-8240
  • Elvira Lesmana Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Indonesia, Jakarta, Indonesia
  • Fadhilah Harmen Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Indonesia, Jakarta, Indonesia
  • Nadya Gratia Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Indonesia, Jakarta, Indonesia
  • Listya Tresnanti Mirtha Department of Community Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Indonesia, Jakarta, Indonesia; Hospital of Universitas Indonesia, Depok, Indonesia https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9203-1872
Keywords: evidence-based medicine, healthcare worker, night shift, sleep deprivation, work performance

Abstract

Background. Poor sleep and excessive fatigue among workers can reduce well-being and physical fitness. However, not many studies have mentioned how sleeping deprivation among night-shift healthcare workers impacted their work performance in multiple aspects.

Method. We conducted an evidence-based case report (EBCR) of a night shift nurse who was worried about the impact of her sleep deprivation on her work performance in the future due to prior history of needle-stick injuries. We aimed to determine whether sleeping deprivation caused by regular night shifts leads to decreased work performance among night-shift healthcare workers by formulating a clinical question. Evidence was searched systematically using five major journal databases (Proquest, EBSCO-Host, PubMed, ScienceDirect, and Cochrane) and was assessed thoroughly using inclusion and exclusion criteria.

Results. Eleven eligible studies were obtained with a medium level of evidence (III-IV), three systematic reviews with meta-analyses (SR-MA), three SR without MA, and five observational studies. All of them were analyzed and critically appraised using Oxford Evidence-Based Medicine and Joanna Briggs Institute tools. We found that reduced quantity and quality of sleep impacted all dimensions of work performance among healthcare professionals, be it in task performance (e.g., skill proficiency), contextual performance (e.g., communication skill and mental health issues), and patient and health worker safety (accident and medication error). It could also encourage counterproductive work behavior, such as absenteeism. Furthermore, sleep deprivation changes circadian rhythms, causing decreased information processing and affective recognition functions in some vital brain areas, ultimately affecting several work dimensions.

Conclusion. In conclusion, stakeholders need to adjust proper shift scheduling for health care workers, practice sleep hygiene, maintain physical fitness, and consume nutritional food, positively correlated to health and productivity.

Author Biography

Listya Tresnanti Mirtha, Department of Community Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Indonesia, Jakarta, Indonesia; Hospital of Universitas Indonesia, Depok, Indonesia

Listya Tresnanti Mirtha, MD., SportsMed., PhD

Sports Medicine Program, Department of Community Medicine

Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Indonesia

Published
2021-09-22
How to Cite
1.
Habiburrahman M, Lesmana E, Harmen F, Gratia N, Mirtha LT. The Impact of Sleep Deprivation on Work Performance towards Night-shift Healthcare Workers: An Evidence-based Case Report. Acta Med Philipp [Internet]. 2021Sep.22 [cited 2024Mar.29];55(6). Available from: https://actamedicaphilippina.upm.edu.ph/index.php/acta/article/view/3157