Background: Some health problems are more prevalent in shift workers than day workers. Musculoskeletal disorders are considered as one of the most common health-related problems that can cause disability among health care workers. The aim of this study was to assess the associations between shift working and the prevalence of musculoskeletal symptoms (MSs) among nursing personnel.Materials and Methods: This study was conducted among 454 health care workers including nurses and nurses’ aides in a general hospital in Iran. A Nordic musculoskeletal questionnaire was used to evaluate the prevalence of MSs. Logistic regression analysis with adjusting for confounding factors was performed to evaluate the associations between shift working and the prevalence of MSs.Results: Lower back, knees, and upper back symptoms with the prevalence of 57.4%, 48.4%, and 47%, respectively, were the most common MSs. The prevalence of MSs in eight regions of the body (lower back, neck, knees, upper back, shoulder, wrist, buttock, and ankle) was higher among shift workers than day workers. The differences were statistically signifi cant only in the lower back and ankle regions (P<0.05). Odds Ratio for lower back symptoms in shift workers was 1.94 compared to day workers (P=0.003).Conclusion: Findings of this study suggested that shift working could be associated with increased prevalence of lower back disorders among nursing personnel. This study emphasizes on the importance of proper work planning and regulating working hours for nursing personnel.

Background: Irregular Working hours, including night work and shift work, have been found to be associated with alteration in various levels of biochemical factors. And some studies have showed association between shift work and blood biochemical disturbances in blood. In this epidemiological study we investigated, whether regular schedule of working hours can minimize the associated biochemical effects.Methods: Atotal of 442 air traffic controllers between the ages of 21 and 59 years in this study filled out questionnaire, and triglyceride, total cholesterol, and HDL-C concentration and FBS were measured after 12- hours fasting. The correlation between shift work and the biochemical variables was measured. The SPSS software version 11.5 and STAT Aversion 8 were used for statistical analysis, the X2 and fisher's exact test used for comparing the qualitative variables and the parametric tests for quantitative variables with normal distribution.Odd's ratio (OR), and 95% confidence interval (95% CI) were used for estimating the effect of shift work on lipid profile and high blood glucose levels. Logistic regression modeling was used for multivariable analysis and adjusting the effect of different variables.Results: sample size of this cross-sectional study was consisted of 305 (69%) shift workers and 137 (31%) day workers. The mean age of the shift workers was 40±10 years old and the day workers 40±9.The mean of variables in the present study for total cholesterol, LDL-C, HDL-C, triglyceride and fasting blood glucose in the shift workers were respectively: 195±37mg/dl, 116.8±34.8mg/dl, 48.2±15.1mg/dl, 154±80mg/dl, 92±20mg/dl and in the day workers were respectively: 200±40mg/dl, 125.3±38.6mg/dl, 48.8±23.3mg/dl, 151±77mg/dl, 90±14mg/dl. Adjusted Odd's ratio for the effect of shift working on the biochemical blood factors did not change the results..Conclusion: This study showed that air traffic control workers with various shift did not have any disturbances in their biochemical blood factors, and this finding persisted after adjustment was made for age. These results could be due to regular shift schedule as well as periodic evaluation for biochemical blood factors in this group. But this study did not rule out physiological and behavioral effects of working shift on the shift workers. It was concluded that shift workers should be on regular working schedule and examined periodically for biochemical blood factors, physiological flunctuation (gastrointestinal, endocrinal, cardiovascular….) and behavioral effects induced by variation in shift working.