How should we manage fatigue in on-call workers? A review of guidance materials and a systematic review of the evidence-base

Bumpstead H; Kovac K; Ferguson SA; Vincent GE; Bachmann A; Signal L; Aisbett B; Thomas MJW; Sprajcer M

How should we manage fatigue in on-call workers? A review of guidance materials and a systematic review of the evidence-base

dc.citation.volume	79
dc.contributor.author	Bumpstead H
dc.contributor.author	Kovac K
dc.contributor.author	Ferguson SA
dc.contributor.author	Vincent GE
dc.contributor.author	Bachmann A
dc.contributor.author	Signal L
dc.contributor.author	Aisbett B
dc.contributor.author	Thomas MJW
dc.contributor.author	Sprajcer M
dc.contributor.editor	Vitiello M
dc.coverage.spatial	England
dc.date.accessioned	2024-10-25T01:34:29Z
dc.date.available	2024-10-25T01:34:29Z
dc.date.issued	2025-02
dc.description.abstract	On-call work is known to contribute to disrupted sleep, fatigue, and an increased risk of incidentor injury. This review aimed to a) identify current on-call management strategies that are suggested or required by regulatory bodies, and b) determine if there is empirical evidence to support these strategies in managing the fatigue of on-call workers. A grey literature search produced 65 relevant guidance materials. A systematic inductive thematic process identified consistent strategies included in these materials: 1) regularity/predictability of shifts, 2) fatigue management policy, 3) prescriptive rule sets, 4) fitness for work assessment, 5) on-the-day control measures, 6) risk assessment, 7) training and education, and 8) call management. Subsequently, a systematic review identified 17 original studies on the effectiveness of fatigue management strategies in on-call workers. Very little research has been done on fatigue management strategies for on-call workers outside of some prescriptive hours of work limitations. These limitations generally reduced fatigue, but often had the unintended consequence of increasing workload, which may inadvertently increase overall risk. Training, education, and call management (e.g., protected naps during on-call periods) also had some supporting evidence. The current gap in evidence emphasises the critical need for research on tailored on-call fatigue management strategies.
dc.description.confidential	false
dc.edition.edition	February 2025
dc.format.pagination	102012-
dc.identifier.author-url	https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/39388823
dc.identifier.citation	Bumpstead H, Kovac K, Ferguson SA, Vincent GE, Bachmann A, Signal L, Aisbett B, Thomas MJW, Sprajcer M. (2024). How should we manage fatigue in on-call workers? A review of guidance materials and a systematic review of the evidence-base.. Sleep Med Rev. 79. (pp. 102012-).
dc.identifier.doi	10.1016/j.smrv.2024.102012
dc.identifier.eissn	1532-2955
dc.identifier.elements-type	journal-article
dc.identifier.issn	1087-0792
dc.identifier.number	102012
dc.identifier.pii	S1087-0792(24)00116-3
dc.identifier.uri	https://mro.massey.ac.nz/handle/10179/71848
dc.language	eng
dc.publisher	Elsevier Ltd
dc.publisher.uri	https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1087079224001163
dc.relation.isPartOf	Sleep Med Rev
dc.rights	(c) 2024 The Author/s
dc.rights	CC BY 4.0
dc.rights.uri	https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
dc.subject	Fatigue management
dc.subject	On-call work
dc.subject	Risk
dc.subject	Safety
dc.subject	Sleep
dc.title	How should we manage fatigue in on-call workers? A review of guidance materials and a systematic review of the evidence-base
dc.type	Journal article
pubs.elements-id	491978
pubs.organisational-group	Other