Title
The effect of work shift and sleep duration on various aspects of police officers' health
Document Type
Article
Peer Reviewed
1
Publication Date
5-1-2012
Journal/Book/Conference Title
Workplace health & safety
Volume
60
NLM Title Abbreviation
Workplace Health Saf
DOI
10.3928/21650799-20120416-22;
PubMed ID
22515415
Abstract
Police officers are prone to cardiovascular disease, overweight, and obesity. Because night-shift work affects sleep, a modifiable risk factor linked to chronic disease, the researchers explored the relationship among shift work, sleep, and wellness for police officers. Sleep, C-reactive protein (CRP) levels, stress, fatigue, and body mass index were used to compare officers who worked primarily day shifts to those who worked primarily evening or night shifts, and officers who slept less than 6 hours per day to those who slept at least 6 hours per day. A cross-sectional study of 85 male officers, 20 to 63 years old, was completed at three Midwestern police departments. The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index was used to assess sleep. A questionnaire was used to collect officer demographics and work hours. Other measurements included serum CRP, height, weight, perceived stress, and vital exhaustion. The relative risk of sleeping less than 6 hours per day for officers who primarily worked non-day shifts, compared to those who worked day shifts, was 14.27 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.98-102.95, p < .001), and the relative risk of overall poor sleep quality for officers who slept less than 6 hours per day, compared to those who slept more hours, was 2.44 (95% CI, 1.15-5.20, p = .027). CRP was not associated with shift or sleep duration, even when adjusted for officers' ages.
Keywords
Adult, Cross-Sectional Studies, Female, Humans, Iowa, Male, Middle Aged, Occupational Diseases/etiology, Personnel Staffing and Scheduling, Police/organization & administration, Risk Factors, Sleep Disorders, Circadian Rhythm/etiology, Work Schedule Tolerance
URL
http://ir.uiowa.edu/nursing_pubs/1823
