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Subjective and objective sleep and sleepiness among tunnel workers in an extreme and isolated environment: 10-h shifts, 21-day working period, at 78 degrees north.
Sleep Med. 2010 Feb; 11(2):185-90.SM

Abstract

OBJECTIVES

The aim of this study was to examine the effects of extended work hours (10 h on, 14 h off for 21 days) on sleep and sleepiness in an extreme and isolated environment in the far north (Spitsbergen, 78 degrees north). We wanted to examine whether sleep duration, sleepiness and other parameters changed over the 3-week working period and whether the parameters differed between day and night shifts.

METHODS

The work consisted of tunnel construction in Svea, Spitsbergen. The participants worked alternate fixed day shift (06:00-16:00) or fixed night shift (18:00-04:00) for a 21-day work period in a counterbalanced, crossover design. The participants were 25 male workers (age 24-60 years). We used subjective and objective measures of sleep (diary and actigraphy) and a subjective daytime sleepiness and function questionnaire.

RESULTS

The workers had a high sleep efficiency measured both subjectively and objectively. This did not change across days or between day and night shifts. Total sleep time was significantly shorter (about (1/2) to 1h) during the day shift period than during the night shift period, as measured both subjectively and objectively, but did not differ across days. Subjective ratings of sleepiness did not differ between shifts.

CONCLUSIONS

There were few differences between the day and night shift periods and across the 21-day working period, as measured both subjectively and objectively. The subjects experienced few problems and seemed to adapt easily to their work schedule. This contrasts with what is usually the case in more conventional shift work situations, where workers do not adapt well, as measured by sleepiness and various sleep parameters.

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Publisher Full Text (DOI)

Authors+Show Affiliations

Forberg K
Department of Public Health and Primary Health Care, University of Bergen, Kalfarveien 31, N-5018 Bergen, Norway.
Waage S
No affiliation info available
Moen B
No affiliation info available
Bjorvatn B
No affiliation info available

MeSH

ActigraphyAdultCross-Over StudiesFacility Design and ConstructionFatigueHumansMaleMiddle AgedNorwaySleepSurveys and QuestionnairesTime FactorsWork Schedule ToleranceWorkplace

Pub Type(s)

Journal Article
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Language

eng

PubMed ID

20093076

Citation

Forberg, Knut, et al. "Subjective and Objective Sleep and Sleepiness Among Tunnel Workers in an Extreme and Isolated Environment: 10-h Shifts, 21-day Working Period, at 78 Degrees North." Sleep Medicine, vol. 11, no. 2, 2010, pp. 185-90.
Forberg K, Waage S, Moen B, et al. Subjective and objective sleep and sleepiness among tunnel workers in an extreme and isolated environment: 10-h shifts, 21-day working period, at 78 degrees north. Sleep Med. 2010;11(2):185-90.
Forberg, K., Waage, S., Moen, B., & Bjorvatn, B. (2010). Subjective and objective sleep and sleepiness among tunnel workers in an extreme and isolated environment: 10-h shifts, 21-day working period, at 78 degrees north. Sleep Medicine, 11(2), 185-90. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sleep.2009.07.015
Forberg K, et al. Subjective and Objective Sleep and Sleepiness Among Tunnel Workers in an Extreme and Isolated Environment: 10-h Shifts, 21-day Working Period, at 78 Degrees North. Sleep Med. 2010;11(2):185-90. PubMed PMID: 20093076.
* Article titles in AMA citation format should be in sentence-case
TY - JOUR T1 - Subjective and objective sleep and sleepiness among tunnel workers in an extreme and isolated environment: 10-h shifts, 21-day working period, at 78 degrees north. AU - Forberg,Knut, AU - Waage,Siri, AU - Moen,Bente, AU - Bjorvatn,Bjørn, Y1 - 2010/01/25/ PY - 2008/07/27/received PY - 2009/06/28/revised PY - 2009/07/09/accepted PY - 2010/1/23/entrez PY - 2010/1/23/pubmed PY - 2010/4/24/medline SP - 185 EP - 90 JF - Sleep medicine JO - Sleep Med VL - 11 IS - 2 N2 - OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to examine the effects of extended work hours (10 h on, 14 h off for 21 days) on sleep and sleepiness in an extreme and isolated environment in the far north (Spitsbergen, 78 degrees north). We wanted to examine whether sleep duration, sleepiness and other parameters changed over the 3-week working period and whether the parameters differed between day and night shifts. METHODS: The work consisted of tunnel construction in Svea, Spitsbergen. The participants worked alternate fixed day shift (06:00-16:00) or fixed night shift (18:00-04:00) for a 21-day work period in a counterbalanced, crossover design. The participants were 25 male workers (age 24-60 years). We used subjective and objective measures of sleep (diary and actigraphy) and a subjective daytime sleepiness and function questionnaire. RESULTS: The workers had a high sleep efficiency measured both subjectively and objectively. This did not change across days or between day and night shifts. Total sleep time was significantly shorter (about (1/2) to 1h) during the day shift period than during the night shift period, as measured both subjectively and objectively, but did not differ across days. Subjective ratings of sleepiness did not differ between shifts. CONCLUSIONS: There were few differences between the day and night shift periods and across the 21-day working period, as measured both subjectively and objectively. The subjects experienced few problems and seemed to adapt easily to their work schedule. This contrasts with what is usually the case in more conventional shift work situations, where workers do not adapt well, as measured by sleepiness and various sleep parameters. SN - 1878-5506 UR - https://www.unboundmedicine.com/medline/citation/20093076/Subjective_and_objective_sleep_and_sleepiness_among_tunnel_workers_in_an_extreme_and_isolated_environment:_10_h_shifts_21_day_working_period_at_78_degrees_north_ DB - PRIME DP - Unbound Medicine ER -