Effects of Shift Work on Cognitive and Motor Performance in Nurses: A Systematic Review and Meta‐Analysis.

Background: Shift work—especially during night hours—adversely affects nurses' cognitive and motor performance, potentially compromising patient safety. Variations in shift duration and rotation patterns contribute to these effects. Implementing evidence‐based strategies such as optimized scheduling...

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Publicado en:Worldviews on Evidence-Based Nursing (John Wiley & Sons, Inc.) Vol. 22; no. 5; pp. 1 - 25
Autores principales: Ulupınar, Fadime, Ulupınar, Süleyman
Formato: equations & formulas meta analysis research systematic review tables/charts Journal Article
Publicado: John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Oct2025
Acceso en línea:Ver este registro en EBSCOhost
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      dt: Oct2025
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      pub: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
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        atl: Effects of Shift Work on Cognitive and Motor Performance in Nurses: A Systematic Review and Meta‐Analysis.
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          Ulupınar, Fadime
          Ulupınar, Süleyman
        affil: Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Nursing, Erzurum Technical University, Erzurum, Turkey
      sug:
        subj:
          Nurses Psychosocial Factors
          Shiftwork
          Cognition Evaluation
          Psychomotor Performance Evaluation
          Quality of Nursing Care
          Human
          Systematic Review
          Meta Analysis
          Turkiye
          Male
          Female
          Adult
          PubMed
          Cochrane Library
          Neuropsychological Tests
          Checklists
          Confidence Intervals
          Patient Safety
          Work Environment
          Support, Psychosocial
          Job Performance
          Organizational Policies
          Adult: 19-44 years
          Male
          Female
      ab: Background: Shift work—especially during night hours—adversely affects nurses' cognitive and motor performance, potentially compromising patient safety. Variations in shift duration and rotation patterns contribute to these effects. Implementing evidence‐based strategies such as optimized scheduling, structured rest breaks, and supportive work environments may mitigate performance declines. These findings highlight the importance of organizational policies aimed at protecting both healthcare workers and patient outcomes. Methods: A comprehensive search across PubMed, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science identified 22 studies with 224 comparison data points for inclusion. Study quality was assessed using the ROBINS‐I tool across seven bias domains. Analyses were performed using Python, applying random‐effects models to account for heterogeneity (Cochran's Q, I2), with Egger's test used for publication bias assessment. Results: Day shifts led to a small performance decline (Hedges' g = 0.238, 95% CI [0.155, 0.321]), while night shifts caused a more substantial decline (Hedges' g = 0.386, 95% CI: 0.320 to 0.451). Motor performance across all shift types showed a moderate effect size (Hedges' g = 0.326, 95% CI [0.210, 0.442]). Comparing day shifts to nonstandard shifts, a small effect size (Hedges' g = 0.220, 95% CI [0.171, 0.269]) highlighted reduced performance under irregular shift conditions. High heterogeneity in night shifts (I2 = 86.8%) suggested variability in study designs and methodologies. Linking Evidence to Action: Shift work, particularly night shifts, negatively impacts cognitive and motor performance, posing risks to clinical safety. The variability in shift durations (6–17 h) and different shift rotation strategies contributed to heterogeneity. Targeted interventions, including optimized scheduling, adequate rest breaks, and supportive workplace practices, are needed to mitigate negative effects. This meta‐analysis provides evidence‐based insights into the detrimental effects of shift work on nurses' performance, supporting the development of policies and strategies to promote safer clinical environments and enhance healthcare quality. Trial Registration: PROSPERO
      pubtype: Academic Journal
      doctype:
        equations & formulas
        meta analysis
        research
        systematic review
        tables/charts
        Journal Article
      ougenre: Article
    language: English
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