Overview of the post-night shift syndrome in the COVID-19 pandemic era: predictors in a North African sample of physicians

Sirine Bouzid, Rim Karray, Amine Abdelhedi, Haifa Snoussi, Kais Bouzid,Mouna Jerbi, Abdennour Nasri, Olfa Chakroun-Walha, Noureddine Rekik.

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to detect the post-night shift syndrome among physicians and to evaluate its predicting factors.
METHODS: Observational cross-sectional study involving physicians working night shifts during the study period (December 2019-February 2021). The post-night shift symptoms are divided into four dimensions: somatic, behavior, mood, and psychological.
RESULTS: Sixty-five participants have developed PNS syndrome (25.70%).
The independent predictors of developing PNS syndrome were working in a COVID-19 unit, the number of admissions, and the number of sleeping hours.
CONCLUSION: The night shift is a condition that primarily affects physicians. The PNS may cause several disorders and may decrease the physicians’ well-being. At the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, working in a COVID-19 unit was a predictor of the development of PNS syndrome.