A Cross-Sectional Study of Circadian Stimulus in Swedish Radiographers' Light Environment.

Timely light exposure is a vital aspect to achieve better sleep and well-being. As there are risks with a disturbed circadian rhythm and benefits with light settings that stimulate the rhythm, the circadian effective light, circadian stimulus (CS), for radiographers was examined. The aim of the study was to compare radiographers' light environment on the workstations, at a university hospital in Southern Sweden in the form of CS and relate that to recommendations published by the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency. A cross-sectional method has been applied. The measurements for CS were collected in all labs in the radiology department in the middle of January. A total of 804 measures were evenly collected resulting in a median for the 19 labs, where the observed median for all labs was 0.091 CS which is significantly lower than the recommended value of 0.3 CS ( < .001). Comparing work light settings with maximum light levels in the brightest and darkest labs showed a significant difference ( < .001). The CS values in the labs, at the radiology department at a university hospital in Southern Sweden, do not reach the recommended values of circadian stimulus published by the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency when the radiographers themselves set the light. There is a potential for improvement as a significant difference could be seen between the chosen level of light and the maximum possible level of light.