Influence of shift work on the physical work capacity of Tunisian nurses: a cross-sectional study in two university hospitals

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: this study has been performed to determine the influence of rotating shift work on physical working capacity of Tunisian nurses and to design recommendations to managers so that they implement effective preventive measures. METHODS: it is a cross-sectional design using a standardized questionnaire and many physical capacity tests on a representative sample of 1181 nurses and nursing assistants from two university hospital centers of the school of Medicine of Monastir located in the Tunisian Sahel. 293 participants have been recruited by stratified random sampling according to gender and departments. Maximum Grip strength, 30s sit-to-stand test, one leg test, Fingertip-to-Floor test, Saltsa test and peak expiratory flow were used to assess physical capacity. Work ability was assessed through the workability index.

Keywords

• nurses
• ergonomics
• premature aging
• shift work
• work capacity evaluation
• physical tests