Comparing performance on a simulated 12 hour shift rotation in young and older subjects.

Objectives: To simulate a 12 hour shift rotation and measure the difference in performance if any, between older and younger subjects. Significant reductions in neurobehavioural performance during shift work and particularly night work have long been recognised. There are conflicting reports of the...

Descripción completa

Detalles Bibliográficos
Publicado en:Occupational & Environmental Medicine Vol. 58; no. 1; pp. 58 - 63
Autores principales: Reid K, Dawson D, Reid, K, Dawson, D
Formato: research tables/charts Journal Article
Publicado: BMJ Publishing Group Jan2001
Acceso en línea:Ver este registro en EBSCOhost
fields @attributes:
  recordID: 1
pdfLink:
plink: https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=ccm&AN=107048958&site=ehost-live
header:
  @attributes:
    shortDbName: ccm
    uiTerm: 107048958
    longDbName: CINAHL Complete
    uiTag: AN
  controlInfo:
    bkinfo:
    dissinfo:
    jinfo:
      jid:
        13510711
        22H
      jtl: Occupational & Environmental Medicine
      issn: 13510711
      maglogo: N
    pubinfo:
      dt: Jan2001
      vid: 58
      iid: 1
      pid: 8280
      pub: BMJ Publishing Group
    artinfo:
      ui:
        107048958
        107048958
        NLM11119636
        2001078040
        10.1136/oem.58.1.58
        NLM11119636
        107048958
      ppf: 58
      ppct: 5
      formats:
      tig:
        atl: Comparing performance on a simulated 12 hour shift rotation in young and older subjects.
      aug:
        au:
          Reid K
          Dawson D
          Reid, K
          Dawson, D
        affil: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, The University of Adelaide, The Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Woodville Road, Woodville, South Australia 5011
      sug:
        subj:
          Shift Workers
          Age Factors
          Job Performance Evaluation
          Circadian Rhythm
          Descriptive Statistics
          Adult
          Male
          Female
          Interviews
          Questionnaires
          Diaries
          Sleep
          Motor Skills Evaluation
          Time Factors
          Polysomnography
          Repeated Measures
          Analysis of Variance
          Regression
          Unpaired T-Tests
          Paired T-Tests
          Linear Regression
          Statistical Significance
          Funding Source
          Human
          Adult: 19-44 years
          Male
          Female
      ab: Objectives: To simulate a 12 hour shift rotation and measure the difference in performance if any, between older and younger subjects. Significant reductions in neurobehavioural performance during shift work and particularly night work have long been recognised. There are conflicting reports of the effects of 12 hour shifts on performance, alertness, and safety. Furthermore, research suggests that older shift workers have more sleep disruption and maladaption to shift work. When this is combined with longer hours at work there may be considerable reductions in performance for older compared with younger workers.Methods: Thirty two subjects were allocated to groups according to age. Group one had 16 subjects with a mean (SD) age of 21.2 (2.7) years, and group two had 16 subjects with a mean (SD) age of 43.9 (6.8) years. Subjects came to the laboratory for six consecutive days and completed a simulated 12 hour shift rotation consisting of two 12 hour day shifts (0700-1900), followed by two 12 hour night shifts (1900-0700). During the work period subjects completed a computer administered neurobehavioural performance task every hour.Results: Performance for the older subjects was consistently lower than for the younger subjects. There was a significant difference in performance across the shift between older and younger subjects. There was a significant change in performance across the shifts in the older subjects, such that performance significantly increased across the day shifts and decreased across the night shifts. By contrast, the younger subjects were able to maintain performance across both day shifts and the second night shift.Conclusions: There are significant differences in performance of older and younger subjects during a simulated 12 hour shift rotation. Future studies both in the field and the laboratory would be useful in determining whether this is typical and if there are any important consequences for the older worker on 12 hour shifts.
      pubtype: Academic Journal
      doctype:
        research
        tables/charts
        Journal Article
      ougenre: Article
    language: English
    refInfo:
    holdings:
      @attributes:
        islocal: N