A cross-sectional study of the health effects of work schedules on 3212 hospital workers in France: implications for the new French work schedules policy.

This study was designed to investigate the effects of work schedules on the health of hospital workers at the Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris (AP-HP). Out of 40 hospitals, 17 volunteered to participate in this study. The Standard Shiftwork Index and a questionnaire concerning physicians' work schedules were used. Ten thousand questionnaires were distributed anonymously to hospital workers between March and April 1999. Professional categories comprised head nurses, nurses, nursing auxiliaries, hospital agents, midwives and full time physicians. Departments included internal and geriatric medicine, general paediatrics, orthopaedic and general surgery, operating and emergency rooms, and anaesthesiology and intensive care units. 3250 questionnaires were returned. Demographics for the respondents were: 79.2% female, average age 38.1 +/- 9.1 years old. Eleven work schedules were identified. One fourth of the personnel had fixed morning work schedules. The highest level of job satisfaction was found in personnel working in paediatrics while dissatisfaction was strongest in the gerontology and, emergency room personnel. General Health Questionnaire (GHQ) scores were high for head nurses, operating room nurses and junior doctors as well as for personnel with rotating and flexible shifts. This study will be used to make recommendations concerning the reduction of working time for French hospital workers.