Investigating the physical and psychological problems associated with shift working among nurses of teaching hospitals Golestan province, 2023
Journal of Behdasht dar Arseh (i.e., Health in the Field),
Vol. 14 No. 1 (1405),
24 October 2026
,
Page 17-27
https://doi.org/10.22037/jhf.v14i1.51545
Abstract
Background and Aims: Shift work and irregular working hours may affect nurses’ physical and psychological health, as well as their professional performance, thereby influencing the quality of patient care. This study aimed to determine the physical and psychological problems associated with shift work among nurses employed at educational and therapeutic centers in Golestan Province, Iran, in 2023.
Materials and Methods: This descriptive-analytical cross-sectional study was conducted in selected teaching hospitals in Gorgan, Iran. A total of 256 nurses were recruited using stratified random sampling. Data were collected using the Survey of Shift Workers questionnaire. The data were analyzed using independent-samples t-tests, chi-square tests, and Fisher’s exact tests in SPSS software, version 26. Ethical principles were observed throughout the study.
Results: Of the participants, 62.5% were women, and the remainder were men. The mean age was 31.19 ± 6.7 years, and the mean work experience was 7.12 ± 5.7 years. Half of the nurses reported a heavy workload during evening shifts and a very heavy workload during night shifts. The most frequently reported problems were psychological symptoms (94.5%), gastrointestinal problems (87.9%), musculoskeletal problems (86.3%), impaired concentration (70.3%), sleep disturbances (66.8%), and cardiovascular problems (42.2%).
Conclusion: Shift work is associated with an increased occurrence of physical and psychological problems among nurses. To mitigate these adverse effects, nursing management should prioritize the development of regular shift-rotation schedules, adequate rest intervals, and continuous monitoring of staff health. The findings suggest that shift work may contribute to physical and psychological complications among nurses.
- Shift work
- Physical problems
- Psychological problems
- Nurses
How to Cite
References
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