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Volume 13 Issue 2 (February) 2024

Original Articles

Association between Shiftwork and Cognitive Performance on the Trail-Making Test in Female Nurses
Dr. Rahul Kumar Bagla, Dr. Aprajita Panwar, Dr. Mamta Mohan

Background And Objectives: Shift work is necessary to ensure round-the-clock health care in the hospital. A large body of literature reports cognitive decline in shift workers due to de-synchronisation of the inherent circadian rhythm though the results are varying and inconclusive. Hence, this study exploredthe cognitive function among day and night shift nurses in a tertiary care hospital. Material And Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 38 female nursing staff working at a tertiary care centre. The participants were asked to complete the Trail Making Test (TMT), a neurocognitive test consisting of two parts (TMT-A and TMT-B), at the start of the shift and the end of their day/night shift. Wilcoxon signed-rank tests were used to compare post-shift TMT performance to baseline in nursing staff. Results:50% nurses working on a day shift basis completed the TMT-A and TMT-B pre and post-day shift conditions, and the rest of the 50% completed the TMT-A and TMT-B pre and post-night shifts. There was a median increase in TMT-B post-night shift of 8 sec (p< 0.001) compared to baseline but no change in TMT-A. However, there was no significant difference in post-day shift TMT-A times or TMT-B compared to their baseline values. Conclusion:Based on our study findings, it was evident that working extended night shifts has a direct correlation with cognitive decline in the female nurses. This may indicate decreased visual attention, processing speed, task switching and executive function. Hence, efficient organization of shift work within the healthcare sector is recommended to safeguard the psychological well-being of Nurses without compromising patient care and personal safety.

 
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