How Forward and Backward Rotating Shifts Affect Sleep Length, Timing, and Quality

Participants experienced significantly less sleep before early morning shifts compared to afternoon and midnight shifts.

• No differences were observed in sleep measures between clockwise and counterclockwise rotating schedules.
• Both groups showed a significant reduction in sleep duration prior to early morning shifts.
• Sleepiness ratings peaked at the end of midnight shifts.
• The findings suggest early morning and midnight shifts may be problematic for sleep quality in both rotation conditions.

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