The effect of shift work on the diet of accident and emergency nurses at a general hospital in Malta

Purpose The purpose of this paper was to investigate the effect of shift work on diet and lifestyle in nurses working in the accident and emergency department in a general hospital in Malta. Design/methodology/approach This study was a cross-sectional, quantitative survey, whereby data were collected by the use of anonymous questionnaires consisting of a demographic and anthropometric questionnaire, a lifestyle questionnaire and a food frequency questionnaire to assess dietary intakes. In total, 110 nurses completed the study and were divided into three groups: day nurses, rotating-shift nurses and night-shift nurses. Findings Shift working nurses consumed significantly more energy compared to day nurses (night-shift nurses 1,963 ± 506 kcal; rotating-shift nurses 2,065 ± 655 kcal; day nurses 1,722 ± 486 kcal; p = 0.04). Shift working nurses also consumed more protein (p = 0.04), fat (p = 0.047) and fibre (p = 0.005) compared to day nurses; however, day nurses were the most likely to smoke (p = 0.009). Practical implications Shift work does influence the diet of nurses in Malta. It is recommended that access to healthy food, and time and facilities for physical activity are made available across all working hours and that nurses aim to exercise regularly, eat healthily, quit smoking if necessary and get good-quality sleep where possible. Originality/value In total, 22 per cent of workers in Malta work shifts, and Malta currently has one of the highest rates of obesity in Europe. This study considers the impact of shift work on diet. </jats:sec