Gender and Nightshift Work: A Cross Sectional Study on Sleep Quality and Daytime Somnolence.

A few studies suggested that female nightshift workers suffer more frequently from sleep deprivation and insomnia. We conducted a cross-sectional survey in two different occupational settings to address gender-related differences in nightshift work adaptation. We used the Epworth Sleepiness Scale and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index questionnaires to quantify daytime sleepiness and sleep quality among 156 workers, 91 from a ceramic tile factory and 65 healthcare workers, including hospital doctors, nurses, and nurse assistants. Seventy-three percent of participants (40 women and 74 men) were engaged in nightshift work. We used logistic regression analysis to predict daytime sleepiness and poor sleep quality as a function of personal and lifestyle variables and nightshift work. The female gender showed a strong association with both daytime sleepiness and poor sleep quality. Results were also suggestive of an increase in the risk of daytime sleepiness associated with nightshift work and being married. Our results confirm that women are especially vulnerable to sleep disruption. Promoting adaptation to nightshift work requires special attention towards gender issues.

Return to Work of Breast Cancer Survivors: Perspectives and Challenges for Occupational Physicians.

Breast cancer is one of the most common diseases worldwide, mainly affecting the female gender. Considering the increase of breast cancer incidence and the decrease of mortality due to news diagnostic and therapeutic tools, the return to work issue after treatment is going to be very common in the next years. Occupational physicians therefore need to face the return to work and the fitness for work of workers previously diagnosed with breast cancer with a sufficient cultural and technical background. In addition to individual characteristics preceding the diagnosis, clinical outcome, lifestyles and occupational variables are the most impactful factors on return to work that need to be taken into account. The aim of this work is to analyze these factors and discuss the central role of occupational physicians in the decision-making process of returning to work in breast cancer survivors.