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Effects of Aerobic Exercise Training on Nurses' Sleep Quality, Fatigue, Attention and Cortisol Profile

Not Applicable
Completed
Conditions
Nurse
Aerobic Exercise
Fatigue
Attention
Sleep Quality
Cortisol
Interventions
Behavioral: aerobic exercise
Registration Number
NCT03759509
Lead Sponsor
Taipei Medical University
Brief Summary

Shift work in nursing has been found to result in sleep disruption and sleep deprivation, and in sleepiness or fatigue at work. Slow reaction, insufficient attention and poor judgement often come with increased fatigue, which contributes to a high risk of accident and patient safety. Studies have shown that aerobic exercise is helpful in promoting high sleep quality. The study is conducted a prospective parallel randomized trial is performed to 60 nurses with low sleep quality. The subjects are randomly assigned to: (i) the experimental group, in which aerobic exercise training is given; (ii) the control group, in which the subjects kept their original lifestyles. The study aims to investigate the effects of aerobic exercise training on nurses' sleep quality, fatigue, attention and cortisol profile.

Detailed Description

When work shifts and lifestyles change, the synchronous relationship between the body's biological clock and the environment, i.e., circadian rhythms, is disrupted, resulting in insufficient sleep and insomnia. Shift work in nursing has been found to result in sleep disruption and sleep deprivation, and in sleepiness or fatigue at work. Slow reaction, insufficient attention and poor judgement often come with increased fatigue, which contributes to a high risk of accident and patient safety. Studies have shown that aerobic exercise is helpful in promoting high sleep quality, whereas few researchers have argued over how aerobic exercise training improves sleep quality in nurses. The study is conducted in two stages. Previous stage, we conducted with a cross-sectional study design with convenience sampled 200 participants to fill out the Chinese Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (CPSQI) questionnaire for screen the low sleep quality (CPSQI \> 5) participants. A total of 200 nurses were recruited, and 199 valid samples were collected, 108 participants were found to have low sleep quality (CPSQI \> 5). The study will adopt a prospective, longitudinal, parallel-group comparative study, randomly sample from previously screen low sleep quality participants, then random assign to experimental (aerobic exercise) and control (routine activity) groups, and actigraphy sleep recording, saliva samples and attention data will be collected.

The study aims to investigate the effects of aerobic exercise training on nurses' sleep quality, fatigue, attention and cortisol profile. The findings of the study could provide guidelines on improving nurses' fitness and sleep quality.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
COMPLETED
Sex
Female
Target Recruitment
60
Inclusion Criteria
  • Full-time
  • Female nursing staff members
  • Worked 8 hours per shift
  • Had at least 1 year of work experience.
Exclusion Criteria
  • Had used sedatives, hypnotics, antihistamines, or hormonal drugs within the 4 weeks before commencing the study
  • Pregnant
  • Were diagnosed as having sleep or stress disorders, or experienced sleep problems owing to concurrent insomnia or sleep apnea.

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
PARALLEL
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
aerobic exercise trainingaerobic exercisethree times a week, a total of twenty-four times in eight weeks
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Total sleep time sleep changeThe 1st workday 8:00AM to 5th workday 8:00AM of 4th, 8th, and 12th week

The actigraphy reported on sleep parameters of the amount of actual sleep minutes

Wake after sleep onset changeThe 1st workday 8:00AM to 5th workday 8:00AM of 4th, 8th, and 12th week

The actigraphy reported on the amount of minutes they were awake between sleep onset and wake time.

Sleep efficiency changeThe 1st workday 8:00AM to 5th workday 8:00AM of 4th, 8th, and 12th week

The actigraphy reported on sleep parameters of percentage of time asleep while in bed from lights off to lights on.

Seep onset latency changeThe 1st workday 8:00AM to 5th workday 8:00AM of 4th, 8th, and 12th week

The actigraphy reported on sleep parameters of the minutes between lights off and first sleep episode.

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Saliva cortisolCollected at awakening [0 min] and at 30 min, 6 hours, and 12 hours after awakening

Diurnal cortisol concentration

Simple visual reaction time testingBefore and after work, the test are completed within 5 min

Psychomotor Vigilance Task Monitor to test simple visual reaction time

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Taipei Medical University

🇨🇳

Taipei, Taiwan

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