Monitoring of Job Stress Related to Night Shifts in Ophthalmology Physicians and Residents

What this Trial Is About

This research aims to study how prolonged working hours, up to 60 consecutive hours, affect stress and heart rate variability (HRV) in ophthalmology physicians and residents. These healthcare professionals often face stressful night emergency shifts combined with regular daytime work, leading to fatigue, mental exhaustion, and potential impacts on work quality and health. The study focuses on how these demanding conditions influence physiological stress markers and cognitive performance. Participants wear a heart rate belt and a watch that measure physical activity and skin conductance continuously for 34 hours. They also wear an EEG monitor during sleep to assess sleep quality. The study includes five different conditions: a control day with no work, a typical working day, a working day plus one night shift, an emergency working day with two consecutive night shifts, and a night shift alone. After the monitoring period, participants perform a cataract surgery simulator test and provide saliva samples for biomarker analysis. Questionnaires on quality of life and stress-related factors are completed at the start and end of each session. During the study, researchers collect data on heart rate variability, stress levels, fatigue, burnout, depression, anxiety, and sleep quality at the beginning and end of the 34-hour monitoring period. They also measure saliva biomarkers related to stress and evaluate physical activity and sedentary behavior. Surgical performance on the simulator is assessed at the end. The study lasts for up to five participation sessions per individual, allowing detailed evaluation of the effects of prolonged work on stress and performance.

JOB STRESS in OPHthalmology Physicians and Residents