The Impact of Rotating Work Shifts on Gastrointestinal Health of Registered Nurses in Tertiary Care Hospitals of Peshawar KPK: A Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

Background And Aim: Although shift work is crucial for maintaining continuous patient care in hospitals, it has a substantial negative impact on nurses' health. Rotating work shifts disrupt the circadian rhythm, which causes physiological disruptions that mostly impact gastrointestinal (GI) function.  Gastrointestinal diseases are frequent among nurses working rotational shifts. The purpose of this study was to evaluate how rotational work shifts affected the gastrointestinal health of registered nurses employed in tertiary care facilities. Objectives of this study was to assess the impact of gastrointestinal issues among nurses working rotating or night shifts. Methods:  A descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out at Peshawar's Lady Reading Hospital (LRH) and Khyber Teaching Hospital (KTH). Convenience sampling was used to choose 181 registered nurses in total. A pre-validated questionnaire GSRS (Gastrointestinal Symptom Rating Scale) was used to gather data. SPSS version 27 was used for statistical analysis. While inferential statistics (independent t-test, one-way ANOVA, and Pearson correlation) were used to investigate associations between shift work and gastrointestinal symptoms, descriptive statistics (frequencies, percentages, averages, and standard deviations) summarized the data. Results of the study:The mean age of the 181 participants was 33.45 ± 6.58 years, with 42 (23.2%) males and 139 (76.8%) females. Rotating shift nurses had a moderate level of gastrointestinal problems, as shown by their mean total GI score of 153.15 ± 41.79. Gender (p = 0.727), medical history (p = 0.143), and medication use (p = 0.357) did not significantly affect GI ratings. Nurses working evening shifts reported comparatively higher mean GI scores (161.31) compared to those working morning (154.51) or night (145.46) shifts, however this difference was not statistically significant (p = 0.094). Age and total GI score showed a statistically significant positive link (r = 0.47, p < 0.001), suggesting that GI symptoms were more severe in older nurses. Conclusion : The study found that the gastrointestinal health of nurses is negatively impacted by rotating work schedules. Heartburn, indigestion, and bloating were among the problems that many nurses reported. In order to lower gastrointestinal health issues among shift-working nurses, the results highlight the necessity for hospital administration to adopt evidence-based scheduling, guarantee sufficient rest intervals, and encourage dietary control and occupational health awareness.

Key Words: Rotating shifts, gastrointestinal health, registered nurses, circadian rhythm, occupational health