IMPACTS OF SLEEP DEPRIVATION ON DOCTORS AND NURSING PROFESSIONALS WHO WORK AT NIGHT TIMES: AN INTEGRATIVE REVIEW

Abstract

Health professionals face the complex and delicate mission of reconciling adequate sleep schedules with the exhausting routine of health services, faced with frequent night shifts, stressful work and interrupted sleep, which can deregulate the circadian rhythm and negatively impact functioning and cognitive performance, resulting in an increased risk of errors, as well as harming your physical and mental health. The objective of our study was to evaluate the negative effects that sleep deprivation has on healthcare professionals, in order to discuss potential measures to reduce such possible impacts. An integrative review of research published in the PubMed and Virtual Health Library (VHL) databases was carried out, excluding review studies, meta-analyses, case reports, opinion articles, letters to the editor, which were not consistent with all eligibility criteria or that had been published more than 10 years ago. Sixteen studies were analyzed, the majority (13) were divided into cross-sectional and observational studies, two (02) were cohort studies and one (01) was a clinical trial. Our research showed that the damage caused by poor sleep management in doctors and nurses is evident and proven in several well-designed studies. This negative impact is not limited to the cognitive, emotional and sleep spheres itself, affecting metabolic and physical aspects, which can have severe long-term consequences for the body, in addition to increasing risks for the patient. This suggests that shift work policies for this population need to be reviewed, with the implementation of measures that reduce negative outcomes on quality of life and work performance.