The effect of a self-help book for shift work disorder - a randomized controlled trial
Abstract
Introduction: This randomized controlled trial (NCT05633498) compared the effects of a self-help book for coping with shift work (intervention) with an active control condition consisting of sleep hygiene advice among healthcare workers.
Methods: Data were collected from 199 healthcare workers (100 in the intervention group and 99 in the control group) with shift work disorder (SWD) (86.9% females, mean age 39 years). Participants completed questionnaires on SWD and sleep, a knowledge test about shift work, turnover intention, self-reported sickness absence and work-related fatigue at baseline and 6 months follow-up. Linear mixed-effects models were used for continuous outcomes, mixed-effects logistic regression for binary outcomes, and mixed-effects negative-binomial regression for count outcomes.
Results: In total, 136 participants (68.3%) completed follow-up. SWD prevalence decreased to 83.1% in the control group and 79.0% in the intervention group (no significant interaction effect). Knowledge scores increased in the intervention (7.5 to 8.4), but not in control (7.2 to 7.1). No significant interaction effects were found for turnover intention (estimate = -0.64, SE = 0.42, p = 0.13), sickness absence (IRR = 0.85; 95% CI: 0.44-1.62; p = 0.62), or sleep related sickness absence (IRR = 0.59; 95% CI: 0.24-1.43; p = 0.24). For three of five fatigue dimensions; lack of energy (p = 0.014), lack of motivation (p = 0.018), and sleepiness (p = 0.021), the time × group interactions…
How strong is the evidence?
Evidence Hub reads this as a randomized trial, done in people. Its evidence level is 2 of 5 (High · randomized trial). Randomized trials of a reasonable size are the strongest single-study design. Reported size: 136 participants or records.
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