Liao Yung-Hsuan, Tai Chen-Jei, Ming Jin-Lain, Lin Li-Hwa, Chien Li-Yin
Department of Nursing, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.
Institute of Community Health Care, College of Nursing, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Yang-Ming Campus, Taipei, Taiwan.
J Nurs Manag. 2025 Jun 17;2025:6478834. doi: 10.1155/jonm/6478834. eCollection 2025.
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. 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 ( = 32) and control ( = 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. 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; < 0.001), depression (2.5 vs. 7.9, < 0.001), anxiety (3.1 vs. 9.2, < 0.001), and stress (5.6 vs. 12, < 0.001) than those in the controls. No significant differences were observed in heart rate variability between the two groups. 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. Employers could consider providing phototherapy for shift nurses to improve their health. ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT05146596.
轮班工作时间表会导致护士出现睡眠和心理问题，对他们的健康和生活质量产生负面影响。本试验研究了低能量光疗法对轮班护士的睡眠、心理症状和心率变异性的影响。这项随机对照试验于2021年7月至2022年6月进行。纳入标准为在台湾北部一家医疗中心过去6个月内从事轮班工作且自我报告有失眠症状的护士。采用区组随机化将研究参与者分为两组：实验组（n = 32）和对照组（n = 32）。使用配备低强度发光二极管的便携式经络光环帽提供红色和近红外光（660和850纳米），每次30分钟，每周3次，持续4周；对照组未接受任何干预。分别使用抑郁焦虑压力量表-21和失眠严重程度指数来测量心理症状和睡眠问题。通过ANSWatch测量心率变异性。干预前得分无显著差异。经过4周干预后，干预组在失眠（分别为4.3 vs. 12.6；P < 0.001）、抑郁（2.5 vs. 7.9，P < 0.001）、焦虑（3.1 vs. 9.2，P < 0.001）和压力（5.6 vs. 12，P < 0.001）方面的得分显著低于对照组。两组之间在心率变异性方面未观察到显著差异。低强度发光二极管光疗法改善了患有失眠的轮班护士的睡眠质量，减轻了抑郁、焦虑和压力症状；然而，它并未改善心率变异性，可能是由于干预持续时间短以及持续的轮班工作时间表。雇主可以考虑为轮班护士提供光疗以改善他们的健康。ClinicalTrials.gov标识符：NCT05146596。
