Shift Schedule With Fewer Short Daily Rest Periods and Sickness Absence Among Health Care Workers: A Cluster Randomized Clinical Trial.

ABSTRACT:

Importance

Some shift work arrangements allow for less than 11 hours off between shifts. The consequences of short daily rest periods are currently not well understood.

Objective

To determine the effect and cost-benefit of reducing the number of short daily rest periods on sickness-related absence among health care workers.

Design, setting, and participants

This 2-arm cluster-randomized clinical trial was conducted between January 11, 2021, and May 22, 2022, in hospital care units at Haukeland University Hospital in Bergen, Norway. Statistical analysis was performed from April to May 2025.

Intervention

The intervention group followed a 6-month shift schedule with reduced instances of short daily rest periods, whereas the control group adhered to a 6-month shift

SUBMITTER: Djupedal ILR 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12439055 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature