Emergency Medicine Personnel's Preparation, Performance and Perception of Their Night Shifts: A Cross-Sectional Study from Saudi Arabia

PURPOSE: This study aimed to investigate the perceptions and habits of different emergency department (ED) workers (nurses, residents, and attending physicians) and their pre- or post-shift routines. The study also examined the effect of night shifts on personal life, social life, and health. PATIENTS AND METHODS: An anonymous, online, cross-sectional, multiple-choice, self-rating (5-point Likert scale) survey was administered to the participants. All analyses were performed using the SPSS version 22.0. Ethical approval was obtained from the Institutional Review Board (IRB) of King Saud University Medical City (KSUMC) in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. RESULTS: Thirty-three nurses, 51 residents, and 39 attending physicians participated in the survey (response rates of 21%, 100%, and 100%, respectively). A significant difference was noted in the need to use physical sleeping aids between the three groups (P < 0.003), with more nurses using humidifiers as a sleeping aid (21.2%) than residents or attending physicians. However, there was no difference in the use of pharmacological aids between the three groups. All groups utilized coffee as the preferred stimulant, especially residents (76.5%, P <0.032). Nurses and attending physicians wake up 2 hours before their shift, while residents prefer 3 hours (P <0.001). Attending physicians reported the highest accident rates post-night shifts of 17.9% (P < 0.001). Residents reported satisfaction while working night shifts and were least in agreement with night shifts reducing life span. Attending physicians were more in agreement with the increasing risk of drug/alcohol misuse and the incidence of depression in relation to night shifts. CONCLUSION: Participants shared many commonalities, yet residents were less likely to use sleeping aids and enjoy night shifts more than the other groups. All groups consumed coffee for stimulation. Attending physicians reported the highest accident rates post night shifts.