Impact of introducing short naps during night shifts on the cognition and well-being of healthcare workers in cardiovascular and thoracic intensive care unit: SOMCARE study ; Impact de l’introduction de la sieste courte lors du travail de nuit sur la cognition et le ressenti du personnel paramédical en réanimation cardio-vasculaire et thoracique : étude SOMCARE

INTRODUCTION. Night shifts and the disruption of circadian rhythms lead to detrimental effects: increased risk of cancers, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, and cognitive impairments. In hospitals, these disturbances heighten the risk of errors and post-shift accidents. While the benefits of short naps on cognition during the day are well-established, their effectiveness during night shifts under real-world conditions remains debated. The main objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of short naps on short-term memory and the perceptions of intensive care nurses and caregivers. MATERIALS AND METHODS. SOMCARE is a prospective, descriptive, and monocentric study conducted at the University Hospital of Grenoble between December 2024 and June 2025. The inclusion criterion was being a healthcare worker in the cardiovascular and thoracic intensive care unit; the exclusion criterion was refusal to participate. The study was carried out in four six-week phases. Phases 1 and 2 constituted the reference period without naps: a cognitive assessment using a forward digit span test at the end of the shift (phase 1) was followed by a self-administered questionnaire (SAQ) on sleep and work experiences (phase 2). A 45-minute break was then introduced to allow for approximately 30-minute naps in designated spaces, with a rotating schedule among healthcare workers. Evaluations were then repeated: the digit span test (phase 3) and SAQ (phase 4). The primary outcome was the difference in mean digit span scores between phases 1 and 3, analyzed using a mixed linear regression. Two measures were considered: the first error (attention fluctuation) and the last level reached before two consecutive errors (immediate storage capacity). Secondary outcomes included sleep inertia, fatigue, overall satisfaction, and changes in lifestyle habits.RESULTS. Among 90 healthcare workers, 47 were included, 34 of whom completed the entire protocol. The analysis showed no significant difference between the periods with and without naps for ...