Effects of Napping During Shift Work on Sleepiness and Performance in Emergency Medical Services Personnel and Similar Shift Workers: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
- PMID: 29324083
- DOI: 10.1080/10903127.2017.1376136
Effects of Napping During Shift Work on Sleepiness and Performance in Emergency Medical Services Personnel and Similar Shift Workers: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Abstract
Background: Scheduled napping during work shifts may be an effective way to mitigate fatigue-related risk. This study aimed to critically review and synthesize existing literature on the impact of scheduled naps on fatigue-related outcomes for EMS personnel and similar shift worker groups.
Methods: A systematic literature review was performed of the impact of a scheduled nap during shift work on EMS personnel or similar shift workers. The primary (critical) outcome of interest was EMS personnel safety. Secondary (important) outcomes were patient safety; personnel performance; acute states of fatigue, alertness, and sleepiness; indicators of sleep duration and/or quality; employee retention/turnover; indicators of long-term health; and cost to the system. Meta-analyses were performed to evaluate the impact of napping on a measure of personnel performance (the psychomotor vigilance test [PVT]) and measures of acute fatigue.
Results: Of 4,660 unique records identified, 13 experimental studies were determined relevant and summarized. The effect of napping on reaction time measured at the end of shift was small and non-significant (SMD 0.12, 95% CI -0.13 to 0.36; p = 0.34). Napping during work did not change reaction time from the beginning to the end of the shift (SMD -0.01, 95% CI -25.0 to 0.24; p = 0.96). Naps had a moderate, significant effect on sleepiness measured at the end of shift (SMD 0.40, 95% CI 0.09 to 0.72; p = 0.01). The difference in sleepiness from the start to the end of shift was moderate and statistically significant (SMD 0.41, 95% CI 0.09 to 0.72; p = 0.01).
Conclusions: Reviewed literature indicated that scheduled naps at work improved performance and decreased fatigue in shift workers. Further research is required to identify the optimal timing and duration of scheduled naps to maximize the beneficial outcomes.
Keywords: emergency medical services; fatigue; napping; shift work.
Similar articles
-
Effect of Fatigue Training on Safety, Fatigue, and Sleep in Emergency Medical Services Personnel and Other Shift Workers: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.Prehosp Emerg Care. 2018 Feb 15;22(sup1):58-68. doi: 10.1080/10903127.2017.1362087. Epub 2018 Jan 11. Prehosp Emerg Care. 2018. PMID: 29324059
-
Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of the Effects of Caffeine in Fatigued Shift Workers: Implications for Emergency Medical Services Personnel.Prehosp Emerg Care. 2018 Feb 15;22(sup1):37-46. doi: 10.1080/10903127.2017.1382624. Epub 2018 Jan 11. Prehosp Emerg Care. 2018. PMID: 29324066
-
Shorter Versus Longer Shift Durations to Mitigate Fatigue and Fatigue-Related Risks in Emergency Medical Services Personnel and Related Shift Workers: A Systematic Review.Prehosp Emerg Care. 2018 Feb 15;22(sup1):28-36. doi: 10.1080/10903127.2017.1376135. Epub 2018 Jan 11. Prehosp Emerg Care. 2018. PMID: 29324079
-
Effects of napping on sleepiness and sleep-related performance deficits in night-shift workers: a systematic review.Biol Res Nurs. 2014 Apr;16(2):134-42. doi: 10.1177/1099800413476571. Epub 2013 Feb 13. Biol Res Nurs. 2014. PMID: 23411360 Free PMC article. Review.
-
Impacts of shift work on sleep and circadian rhythms.Pathol Biol (Paris). 2014 Oct;62(5):292-301. doi: 10.1016/j.patbio.2014.08.001. Epub 2014 Sep 20. Pathol Biol (Paris). 2014. PMID: 25246026 Review.
Cited by
-
Sleep and fatigue management strategies: How nurses, midwives and paramedics cope with their shift work schedules-a qualitative study.Nurs Open. 2024 Jan;11(1):e2099. doi: 10.1002/nop2.2099. Nurs Open. 2024. PMID: 38268269 Free PMC article.
-
Recovery from shift work.Front Neurol. 2023 Nov 2;14:1270043. doi: 10.3389/fneur.2023.1270043. eCollection 2023. Front Neurol. 2023. PMID: 38020633 Free PMC article. Review.
-
The effect of a night shift nap on post-night shift performance, sleepiness, mood, and first recovery sleep: A randomized crossover trial.Scand J Work Environ Health. 2024 Jan 1;50(1):22-27. doi: 10.5271/sjweh.4129. Epub 2023 Nov 7. Scand J Work Environ Health. 2024. PMID: 37933729 Free PMC article. Clinical Trial.
-
Evidence summary on the non-pharmacological management of sleep disorders in shift workers.Sleep Breath. 2024 May;28(2):909-918. doi: 10.1007/s11325-023-02901-5. Epub 2023 Aug 16. Sleep Breath. 2024. PMID: 37587356 Free PMC article. Review.
-
Healthy sleep practices for shift workers: consensus sleep hygiene guidelines using a Delphi methodology.Sleep. 2023 Dec 11;46(12):zsad182. doi: 10.1093/sleep/zsad182. Sleep. 2023. PMID: 37429599 Free PMC article.
Publication types
MeSH terms
LinkOut - more resources
Full Text Sources
Other Literature Sources
Medical
Research Materials