Recovery and well-being among Helicopter Emergency Medical Service (HEMS) pilots

Mirjam Radstaak; Sabine A.E. Geurts; Debby G.J. Beckers; Jos F. Brosschot; Michiel A.J. Kompier

doi:10.1016/j.apergo.2013.12.002

Recovery and well-being among Helicopter Emergency Medical Service (HEMS) pilots

Mirjam Radstaak^*, Sabine A.E. Geurts, Debby G.J. Beckers, Jos F. Brosschot, Michiel A.J. Kompier

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Academic › peer-review

14 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

This study investigated the effects of a compressed working week with high cognitive and emotional work demands within the population of Dutch Helicopter Emergency Medical Service (HEMS) pilots. Work stressors were measured and levels of well-being were examined before, during and after a series of day and night shifts. Results revealed that (i) the start of a series of day shifts was more taxing for well-being than the start of a series of night shifts, (ii) there were no differences in the decrease in well-being during day and night shifts, (iii) distress during shifts was more strongly related to a decrease in well-being during night than during day shifts and (iv) it took HEMS pilots more time to recover from a series of night shifts than from a series of day shifts. It is concluded that HEMS pilots should not start earlier during day shifts, nor have longer series of night shifts.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	986-993
Number of pages	8
Journal	Applied ergonomics
Volume	45
Issue number	4
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apergo.2013.12.002
Publication status	Published - 1 Jul 2014
Externally published	Yes

Keywords

Circadian rhythm
Distress
Shift work

Access to Document

10.1016/j.apergo.2013.12.002

Cite this

@article{96b4f5f915e842df96b8dd07c9357184,

title = "Recovery and well-being among Helicopter Emergency Medical Service (HEMS) pilots",

abstract = "This study investigated the effects of a compressed working week with high cognitive and emotional work demands within the population of Dutch Helicopter Emergency Medical Service (HEMS) pilots. Work stressors were measured and levels of well-being were examined before, during and after a series of day and night shifts. Results revealed that (i) the start of a series of day shifts was more taxing for well-being than the start of a series of night shifts, (ii) there were no differences in the decrease in well-being during day and night shifts, (iii) distress during shifts was more strongly related to a decrease in well-being during night than during day shifts and (iv) it took HEMS pilots more time to recover from a series of night shifts than from a series of day shifts. It is concluded that HEMS pilots should not start earlier during day shifts, nor have longer series of night shifts.",

keywords = "Circadian rhythm, Distress, Shift work",

author = "Mirjam Radstaak and Geurts, \{Sabine A.E.\} and Beckers, \{Debby G.J.\} and Brosschot, \{Jos F.\} and Kompier, \{Michiel A.J.\}",

year = "2014",

month = jul,

day = "1",

doi = "10.1016/j.apergo.2013.12.002",

language = "English",

volume = "45",

pages = "986--993",

journal = "Applied ergonomics",

issn = "0003-6870",

publisher = "Elsevier Ltd",

number = "4",

}

TY - JOUR

T1 - Recovery and well-being among Helicopter Emergency Medical Service (HEMS) pilots

AU - Radstaak, Mirjam

AU - Geurts, Sabine A.E.

AU - Beckers, Debby G.J.

AU - Brosschot, Jos F.

AU - Kompier, Michiel A.J.

PY - 2014/7/1

Y1 - 2014/7/1

N2 - This study investigated the effects of a compressed working week with high cognitive and emotional work demands within the population of Dutch Helicopter Emergency Medical Service (HEMS) pilots. Work stressors were measured and levels of well-being were examined before, during and after a series of day and night shifts. Results revealed that (i) the start of a series of day shifts was more taxing for well-being than the start of a series of night shifts, (ii) there were no differences in the decrease in well-being during day and night shifts, (iii) distress during shifts was more strongly related to a decrease in well-being during night than during day shifts and (iv) it took HEMS pilots more time to recover from a series of night shifts than from a series of day shifts. It is concluded that HEMS pilots should not start earlier during day shifts, nor have longer series of night shifts.

AB - This study investigated the effects of a compressed working week with high cognitive and emotional work demands within the population of Dutch Helicopter Emergency Medical Service (HEMS) pilots. Work stressors were measured and levels of well-being were examined before, during and after a series of day and night shifts. Results revealed that (i) the start of a series of day shifts was more taxing for well-being than the start of a series of night shifts, (ii) there were no differences in the decrease in well-being during day and night shifts, (iii) distress during shifts was more strongly related to a decrease in well-being during night than during day shifts and (iv) it took HEMS pilots more time to recover from a series of night shifts than from a series of day shifts. It is concluded that HEMS pilots should not start earlier during day shifts, nor have longer series of night shifts.

KW - Circadian rhythm

KW - Distress

KW - Shift work

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/84899066171

U2 - 10.1016/j.apergo.2013.12.002

DO - 10.1016/j.apergo.2013.12.002

M3 - Article

C2 - 24462472

AN - SCOPUS:84899066171

SN - 0003-6870

VL - 45

SP - 986

EP - 993

JO - Applied ergonomics

JF - Applied ergonomics

IS - 4

ER -

Recovery and well-being among Helicopter Emergency Medical Service (HEMS) pilots

Abstract

Keywords

Access to Document

Other files and links

Fingerprint

Cite this