November 5, 2026

expert reaction to cross-sectional survey study looking at prevalence of shift work disorder in healthcare shift workers in the NHS

Scientist reacts to cross-sectional survey study published in BMJ Open* looking at prevalence of shift work disorder in healthcare shift workers in the NHS.

Dr Nina Rzechorzek, MRC Clinician Scientist in Brain Temperature & Neural Circadian Rhythms, University of Cambridge, said:

“This study highlights important sleep and wellbeing concerns among NHS shift workers, but the interpretation of ‘High prevalence of probable shiftwork disorder among NHS staff’ needs careful qualification.  Participants volunteered for a survey that specifically emphasised sleep problems, so the 71% figure cannot be generalised to the wider NHS workforce.  Importantly, the researchers did not assess chronotype – an individual’s biologically influenced tendency towards earlier or later sleep-wake timing.  Chronotype has a substantial genetic component, alongside developmental and environmental influences, and may significantly affect tolerance of, and adaptability to, different shift patterns.  Shift work disorder is a recognised condition, but we should be careful not to medicalise what may fundamentally be a mismatch between biological timing and occupational schedules.  Improving shift scheduling and developing methods to better match workers to suitable schedules based on their biological timing deserves at least as much attention as identifying and treating affected individuals.”

Dr Gavin Stewart, Campbell Collaboration Methods Editor, and Senior Lecturer in Evidence Synthesis, Newcastle University, said:

“The sample size of only 500 respondents means the conclusions of this study are best considered as preliminary.  Restriction to samples from two trusts also limits generalisability.  Thus, although working practices clearly merit exploration the study has limited applicability to practice without further evidence acquisition.”

* ‘Prevalence and associated burden of shift work disorder (SWD) in healthcare shift workers in the UK National Health Service (NHS): a cross-sectional survey’ by Thavapriya Sugavanam et al. was published in BMJ Open at 23:30 UK time on Thursday 5 November 2026.

DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2026-118265

Declared interests

Dr Nina Rzechorzek: “I am an MRC Clinician Scientist based in Cambridge, with a core research focus on brain temperature dynamics and circadian rhythms.  I recently completed a secondment to AstraZeneca as part of an AZ–MRC partnership.  I am a Co-Founder of BioClocks UK and the Cambridge Wearables Innovation Forum, and a non-remunerated Clinical Advisor for SomNyx Ltd.  As a Trustee and research supervisor for the medical research charity APEX, I have served as Chief Investigator for several clinical studies capturing round-the-clock data from human participants, including studies involving collaborations with Empatica, Condor Instruments, BodyCap, and Dynamic Therapeutics.  I am also an author on several peer-reviewed papers relating to human temperature rhythms and circadian biology.”

Dr Gavin Stewart: “I have no conflicts of interest to declare.”