Reducing the health risks of shift work in the healthcare sector in the Nordic countries
Objectives
Funded by the Swedish Forte, the aim of the joint Nordic project is to produce research results that can be used to reduce the risks of night work, especially in Sweden. We also make joint Nordic recommendations that help reduce the health risks of shift work in the health care sector in all Nordic countries.
The project aims to
- study to what extent previously identified and suspected health risks are related to certain shift systems in the care sector. Previously identified and suspected health risks may include heart attack, stroke, diabetes, premature childbirth or mental health problems and cancer.
- examine if data on biological mechanisms, symptoms, clinical findings and biomarkers support recognised health risks.
identify organizations’ perceived challenges, barriers and opportunities in mitigating and managing risks. - draw up recommendations for mitigating and managing risks within an organization.
- prepare recommendations for carrying out medical examinations related to night work in order to reduce the adverse health effects of shift work.
Data and methods
The project produces new data and meta-analyses and, based on these, provides detailed recommendations that reduce the health hazards related to shift work.
- As register data, the study makes use of three Nordic research cohorts in the social welfare and health care sector from Sweden, Denmark and Finland. They provide the study with working hours data from a total of over 700,000 employees in the care sector.
- A separate survey conducted in Sweden maps organizations' information needs and stakeholders' views on the recommendations.
- The project also utilizes experimental research data from a previous research project. The clinical, working time and biomonitoring data of the dataset help in the interpretation of epidemiological studies and, in particular, support the drawing up of recommendations for occupational health care.
Within the scope of the project, the Finnish Institute of Occupational Health investigates links between different aspects of shift work and the risk of breast and colon cancer, work ability and mental health.
- We utilize the Titania® data by the Finnish Institute of Occupational Health along with other ongoing studies, such as the "Sote-työajat" cohort, which includes daily working time data (from 2008–2022). It has been combined with survey and health data as part of a followup study of personnel in the municipal and well-being sectors.
- We are responsible for the meta-analyses that combine research conducted in different countries.
- We draw up recommendations for organizations and individuals to reduce the adverse effects of shift work. We will also update the recommendations intended for occupational health care.
Results and impact
The project produces information on the health impacts of shift work and its various characteristics in the social welfare and health care sector. The project makes use of previous register cohorts that utilize daily working time and health data and the recommendations issued regarding them in Finland and Denmark. We also use other previous organizational, individual and occupational health care register cohorts. The results and recommendations of the project will also be updated to the website of the Finnish Institute of Occupational Health.
Our experts
Mikko Härmä
Project group
Mikko Härmä, Research Professor Emeritus, Project Manager
Rahman Shiri, Chief Researcher
Nordic research team
- Maria Albin, Professor Emeritus, Project Director, Karolinska Institutet, Sweden
- Per Gustavsson, Professor Emeritus, Karolinska Institutet, Sweden
- Emma Brulin, Professor, Karolinska Institutet, Sweden
- Karin Broberg, Professor, Lund University, Sweden
- Göran Kecklund, Professor, Stockholm University, Sweden
- Helene Garde, Professor, National Research Centre for the Working Environment, Denmark
- Bobil Landstad, Professor, Region Jämtland Harjedalen, Sweden
Partners
- The Nordic Working Time Network (WINC)
- EPHOR Project Consortium (Horizon Europe)
- The Healthy Healthcare Network (Sweden)
- Occupational Health Services network (Sweden)
- Labour market organizations, Sweden
Funding
Forte, Sweden
