The Effectiveness of Low-Level LED Light Therapy for Sleep Problems, Psychological Symptoms, and Heart Rate Variability in Shift-Work Nurses: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Yung-Hsuan Liao, Chen-Jei Tai, Jin-Lain Ming, Li-Hwa Lin, Li-Yin Chien
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引用次数: 0
Abstract
Background: Shift-work schedules can cause sleep and psychological problems among nurses, negatively affecting their health and quality of life. This trial examined the effects of low-energy light therapy on sleep, psychological symptoms, and heart rate variability among shift-work nurses.
Methods: This randomized controlled trial was conducted from July 2021 to June 2022. The inclusion criteria were nurses with self-reported insomnia who worked in shifts in the last 6 months in a medical center in northern Taiwan. Block randomization was used to assign the study participants to two groups: experimental (n = 32) and control (n = 32). A portable Meridian Aura Cap equipped with a low-level light-emitting diode was used to provide red and near-infrared light (660 and 850 nm) for 30 min, three times a week for 4 weeks; the control group did not receive any intervention. The Depression Anxiety Stress Scale-21 and Insomnia Severity Index were used to measure psychological symptoms and sleep problems, respectively. Heart rate variability was measured by the ANSWatch.
Results: No significant differences were reported in preintervention scores. After the 4-week intervention, the intervention group scored significantly lower in insomnia (4.3 vs. 12.6, respectively; p < 0.001), depression (2.5 vs. 7.9, p < 0.001), anxiety (3.1 vs. 9.2, p < 0.001), and stress (5.6 vs. 12, p < 0.001) than those in the controls. No significant differences were observed in heart rate variability between the two groups.
Conclusion: Low-level light-emitting diode light therapy improved sleep quality in shift-work nurses with insomnia and alleviated depression, anxiety, and stress symptoms; however, it did not improve heart rate variability, possibly because of the short intervention duration and the ongoing shift-work schedule.
Implications for Nursing Management: Employers could consider providing phototherapy for shift nurses to improve their health.
背景：轮班工作会引起护士的睡眠和心理问题，对护士的健康和生活质量产生负面影响。本试验研究了低能光疗对轮班护士睡眠、心理症状和心率变异性的影响。方法：该随机对照试验于2021年7月至2022年6月进行。纳入标准为台湾北部某医疗中心近6个月轮班工作且自述失眠的护士。采用分组随机法将研究参与者分为两组：实验组（n = 32）和对照组（n = 32）。使用配备低电平发光二极管的便携式子午线光环帽，提供红光和近红外光（660和850 nm），每次30分钟，每周3次，持续4周；对照组不接受任何干预。抑郁焦虑压力量表-21和失眠严重程度指数分别用于测量心理症状和睡眠问题。心率变异性由ANSWatch测量。结果：两组干预前评分无显著差异。干预4周后，干预组失眠得分显著降低(分别为4.3比12.6；p & lt;0.001)，抑郁症(2.5 vs. 7.9, p <；0.001)，焦虑(3.1 vs. 9.2, p <；0.001)和应激(5.6 vs. 12, p <；0.001)。两组之间的心率变异性无显著差异。结论：低水平发光二极管光疗可改善轮班护士失眠患者的睡眠质量，减轻抑郁、焦虑和应激症状；然而，它并没有改善心率变异性，可能是因为干预时间短和轮班工作的安排。对护理管理的启示：雇主可考虑为轮班护士提供光疗，以改善其健康状况。试验注册：ClinicalTrials.gov标识符：NCT05146596
期刊介绍：
The Journal of Nursing Management is an international forum which informs and advances the discipline of nursing management and leadership. The Journal encourages scholarly debate and critical analysis resulting in a rich source of evidence which underpins and illuminates the practice of management, innovation and leadership in nursing and health care. It publishes current issues and developments in practice in the form of research papers, in-depth commentaries and analyses.
The complex and rapidly changing nature of global health care is constantly generating new challenges and questions. The Journal of Nursing Management welcomes papers from researchers, academics, practitioners, managers, and policy makers from a range of countries and backgrounds which examine these issues and contribute to the body of knowledge in international nursing management and leadership worldwide.
The Journal of Nursing Management aims to:
-Inform practitioners and researchers in nursing management and leadership
-Explore and debate current issues in nursing management and leadership
-Assess the evidence for current practice
-Develop best practice in nursing management and leadership
-Examine the impact of policy developments
-Address issues in governance, quality and safety
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