Shift work and sleep quality among urban police officers

Objective: The aim of the study was to examine association of shift work with sleep quality in police officers. Methods: Data were obtained from the Buffalo Cardio-Metabolic Occupational Police Stress study (n=363). An electronic work history database was used to define shift as day, afternoon, or night for three durations: past month, 1 year, and 15 years. Sleep quality was determined using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index. Results: The overall prevalence of poor sleep quality was 54%; 44% for day, 60% for afternoon, and 69% for night shift. Poor sleep quality was 70% more prevalent among night-shift officers (P<0.001) and 49% higher among those on the afternoon shift (P=0.003) relative to officers working on the day shift. Conclusions: Night and evening work schedules are associated with elevated prevalence of poor sleep quality among police officers.