Shift Schedule With Fewer Short Daily Rest Periods and Sickness Absence Among Health Care Workers

Does a shift schedule with fewer short daily rest periods affect sickness-related absence of health care workers compared with a usual schedule, and is there an economic benefit of such a schedule?In this cluster-randomized clinical trial that included 66 hospital units and 811 health care workers, a 6-month shift schedule with half the number of short daily rest periods had a positive effect on sickness-related absence days and spells compared with a usual shift schedule. The effect on sickness-related absence days yielded a positive estimated economic return over 5 months.These findings suggests that a shift schedule with fewer short daily rest periods may improve sickness-related absence rates and reduce the associated costs.

Corresponding Author: Ingebjørg Louise Rockwell Djupedal, PhD, Department of Psychosocial Science, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway (ingebjorglouiserockwell.djupedal@fhi.no).

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