Effectiveness of Shift Work Tolerance Intervention Program in Reducing Insomnia Symptoms among Shift-Working Nurses
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.31674/mjn.2026.v17i04.003Abstract
Introduction: Shift-working nurses are at high risk of developing insomnia. However, few interventions have targeted Shift Work Tolerance (SWT) as a strategy to alleviate insomnia among shift-working nurses. Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of SWT intervention in reducing insomnia symptoms among female shift-working nurses. Methods: A quasi-experimental pre-post-test control group design was conducted with 30 participants, who were assigned to intervention (n=15) and control (n=15) groups. The SWT program addressed circadian rhythm of sleep, sleep hygiene, occupational stressors, and coping strategies as well as stress management. Insomnia was assessed using the Regensburg Insomnia Scale (RIS) at baseline and one month after intervention. Data were analyzed using Wilcoxon and Mann–Whitney tests. Results: The intervention group showed significant improvements in insomnia outcomes, including reduced sleep latency, increased sleep duration and continuity, fewer sleepless nights, reduced fear of insomnia, and reduced daytime impairment compared with the control group (p < 0.05). The overall insomnia scores significantly decreased in the intervention group (Δ = 4.93, p = 0.001) but not in the control group (Δ = 2.21, p > 0.05). Conclusion: The SWT intervention was effective in reducing insomnia symptoms and improving sleep health among shift-working nurses. This approach may serve as a feasible strategy to enhance well-being and job performance in clinical practice.
Keywords:
Circadian Rhythm, Insomnia, Nurses, Shift Work ToleranceDownloads
References
Alameri, R. A., Almulla, H. A., Al Swyan, A. H., & Hammad, S. S. (2024). Sleep quality and fatigue among nurses working in high-acuity clinical settings in Saudi Arabia: a cross-sectional study. BMC nursing, 23(1), 51. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12912-023-01693-z
Basner, M., Babisch, W., Davis, A., Brink, M., Clark, C., Janssen, S., & Stansfeld, S. (2014). Auditory and non-auditory effects of noise on health. The Lancet, 383(9925), 1325-1332. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0140-6736(13)61613-x
Bennaroch, K., & Shochat, T. (2023). Psychobiological risk factors for insomnia and depressed mood among hospital female nurses working shifts. Frontiers in Sleep, 2, 1206101. https://doi.org/10.3389/frsle.2023.1206101
Brito, R. S., Dias, C., Afonso Filho, A., & Salles, C. (2021). Prevalence of insomnia in shift workers: a systematic review. Sleep Science, 14(01), 47-54. https://doi.org/10.5935/1984-0063.20190150
Chung, S. A., Wolf, T. K., & Shapiro, C. M. (2009). Sleep and health consequences of shift work in women. Journal of Women's Health, 18(7), 965-977. https://doi.org/10.1089/jwh.2007.0742
Chung, Y., Kim, H., Koh, D. H., Park, J. H., & Yoon, S. (2020). Relationship between shift intensity and insomnia among hospital nurses in korea: A cross-sectional study. Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, 54(1), 46. https://doi.org/10.3961/jpmph.20.555
Conte, F., Malloggi, S., De Rosa, O., Di Iorio, I., Romano, F., Giganti, F., & Ficca, G. (2023). Sleep continuity, stability and cyclic organization are impaired in insomniacs: a case–control study. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 20(2), 1240. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20021240
Crönlein, T., Langguth, B., Popp, R., Lukesch, H., Pieh, C., Hajak, G., & Geisler, P. (2013). Regensburg Insomnia Scale (RIS): a new short rating scale for the assessment of psychological symptoms and sleep in insomnia; study design: development and validation of a new short self-rating scale in a sample of 218 patients suffering from insomnia and 94 healthy controls. Health and Quality of Life Outcomes, 11(1), 65. https://doi.org/10.1186/1477-7525-11-65
De Pasquale, C., El Kazzi, M., Sutherland, K., Shriane, A. E., Vincent, G. E., Cistulli, P. A., & Bin, Y. S. (2024). Sleep hygiene–What do we mean? A bibliographic review. Sleep Medicine Reviews, 75, 101930. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.smrv.2024.101930
Dewi, E. U., Nursalam, Mahmudah, & Yunitasari, E. (2023). The effect of peer support psychoeducation based on experiential learning on self-care demands among breast cancer patients with post-chemotherapy. Journal of Public Health Research, 12(1), 22799036221146901. https://doi.org/10.1177/22799036221146901
Foster, R. G. (2020). Sleep, circadian rhythms and health. Interface focus, 10(3), 20190098. https://doi.org/10.1098/rsfs.2019.0098
Gooley, J. J., Chamberlain, K., Smith, K. A., Khalsa, S. B. S., Rajaratnam, S. M., Van Reen, E., ... & Lockley, S. W. (2011). Exposure to room light before bedtime suppresses melatonin onset and shortens melatonin duration in humans. The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, 96(3), E463-E472. https://doi.org/10.1210/jc.2010-2098
Härmä, M. (1993). Individual differences in tolerance to shiftwork: a review. Ergonomics, 36(1-3), 101-109. https://doi.org/10.1080/00140139308967860
Hirshkowitz, M., Whiton, K., Albert, S. M., Alessi, C., Bruni, O., DonCarlos, L., ... & Hillard, P. J. A. (2015). National Sleep Foundation’s sleep time duration recommendations: methodology and results summary. Sleep Health, 1(1), 40-43. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sleh.2014.12.010
Iskander, A., Jairam, T., Wang, C., Murray, B. J., & Boulos, M. I. (2023). Normal multiple sleep latency test values in adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Sleep Medicine, 109, 143-148. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sleep.2023.06.019
Järnefelt, H., Härmä, M., Sallinen, M., Virkkala, J., Paajanen, T., Martimo, K. P., & Hublin, C. (2020). Cognitive behavioural therapy interventions for insomnia among shift workers: RCT in an occupational health setting. International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health, 93(5), 535-550. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00420-019-01504-6
Kim, S. H., An, K., Bluhm, M. D. L., Lee, M., & Shin, S. H. (2025). The interplay between personal traits and coping strategies on shift-work tolerance: a cross-sectional study. Industrial Health, 63(4), 365-375. https://doi.org/10.2486/indhealth.2024-0165
Liu, H., Wang, D., Li, Y., Li, Z., Zhang, Y., Lei, F., ... & Tang, X. (2014). Examination of daytime sleepiness and cognitive performance testing in patients with primary insomnia. PloS One, 9(6), e100965. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0100965
Maskevich, S., Cassanet, A., Allen, N. B., Trinder, J., & Bei, B. (2020). Sleep and stress in adolescents: the roles of pre-sleep arousal and coping during school and vacation. Sleep Medicine, 66, 130-138. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sleep.2019.10.006
Mastin, D. F., Bryson, J., & Corwyn, R. (2006). Assessment of sleep hygiene using the Sleep Hygiene Index. Journal of Behavioral Medicine, 29(3), 223-227. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10865-006-9047-6
Ohayon, M. M. (2009). Difficulty in resuming or inability to resume sleep and the links to daytime impairment: definition, prevalence and comorbidity. Journal of Psychiatric Research, 43(10), 934-940. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpsychires.2009.01.011
Shadish, W. R., Cook, T. D., & Campbell, D. T. (2002). Experimental and quasi-experimental designs for generalized causal inference. Houghton, Mifflin and Company. https://moodle2.units.it/pluginfile.php/132646/mod_resource/content/1/Estratto_ShadishCookCampbellExperimental2002.pdf
Setyowati, A., Yanti, N. R., & Nasution, T. H. (2025). Psychometric Evaluation of Regensburg Insomnia Scale (RIS)-indonesia Version Among Flood Victims. Malaysian Journal of Medicine and Health Sciences, 21(1), 176-181. https://doi.org/10.47836/mjmhs.21.1.23
Setyowati, A., Yusuf, A., Agianto, Yunitasari, E., & Firdaus, S. (2023). Factors affecting shift work sleep disorder in female shift work nurses: Integrating shift workers’ coping with stress and transactional stress coping theory. Journal of Public Health Research, 12(2). https://doi.org/10.1177/22799036231182026
Sletten, T. L., Weaver, M. D., Foster, R. G., Gozal, D., Klerman, E. B., Rajaratnam, S. M., ... & Czeisler, C. A. (2023). The importance of sleep regularity: a consensus statement of the National Sleep Foundation sleep timing and variability panel. Sleep Health, 9(6), 801-820. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sleh.2023.07.016
Tang, N. K., Saconi, B., Jansson‐Fröjmark, M., Ong, J. C., & Carney, C. E. (2023). Cognitive factors and processes in models of insomnia: A systematic review. Journal of Sleep Research, 32(6), e13923. https://doi.org/10.1111/jsr.13923
Xia, L., Chen, C., Liu, Z., Luo, X., Guo, C., Liu, Z., ... & Liu, H. (2021). Prevalence of sleep disturbances and sleep quality in Chinese healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 12, 646342. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2021.646342
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 The Malaysian Journal of Nursing (MJN)

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.



































