Ethical statement
The structure of the working day and working hours of the participants were not altered , and the research was conducted during low-level Covid-19 restrictions and in line with government guidance at the time . All participants gave voluntary informed consent before beginning the study , which was approved by Hartpury University Ethics Committee : ETHICS2020-51-LR .
Results
Nine female participants between the ages of 23 and 46 years ( three VSs and six VNs ) were recruited . However , only seven participants were included in the analysis due to lack of paired data .
A statistically significant difference was elicited between the groups of participants with different hours of sleep lost for the following : reaction time , manual dexterity , working memory , pair-associated learning , motor function accuracy , motor speed and grip strength . No significant differences were determined for balance or coordination .
Discussion
The findings , although specific to veterinary professionals , correlate with those of previous studies on lowered cognitive ability when sleep loss is greater [ 33 , 41 ] . Sleep loss and function have been linked to procedural error in medical professions and , although Working Time Regulations are waived for the veterinary profession , this must be seriously considered when expecting individuals to work OOH – especially if we factor in other possible reasons for fatigue in addition to these types of shifts [ 9 , 27 , 42 ] . The majority of the tests of function conducted produced significant differences between the groups of participants with different hours of sleep lost , suggesting that veterinary professionals must be aware that OOH work could lead to errors in practice or lapses in judgement . It is a duty of veterinary practices to reduce fatigue and stress in their employees , where possible , to improve the wellbeing of staff and patients [ 42 ] .
Limitations were apparent in the study , the main limitation being that data collection was affected by the Covid-19 pandemic and was halted after 4 weeks . Despite the limited time frame and smallerthan-anticipated sample size , the study managed to investigate the immediate effects of sleep deprivation on veterinary professionals : reduced reaction times , manual dexterity , memory and declines in both motor speed and accuracy were observed . This was achieved without taking into account any use of caffeine by the veterinary professionals during the testing , as it would be impractical to regulate the caffeine / stimulant intake of all participants given that it is found in so many foods and beverages [ 44 ] .
Long-term effects of sleep loss must also be considered in the future , as sleep loss can cause physical and mental health conditions . The participants were scheduled on a rolling rota of OOH work , so cumulative effects may be seen in a longitudinal study . Research has indicated that continued exposure to sleep loss can lead to metabolic disorders , cancers , poor mental health and a deterioration in alertness [ 9 , 45 , 46 ] . Working night shifts has been classified as carcinogenic to humans , raising the question of how the veterinary profession can protect animal welfare and fulfil the OOH demands of clients , while also maintaining the health and safety of its workforce , the patients it treats and the wider public [ 13 , 14 , 45 , 47 ] .
This study was conducted over a relatively short timescale of 4 weeks and produced differences in function . It would be interesting to continue data collection in a longitudinal study to determine how veterinary professionals are affected when carrying out their normal routine , and which items in the battery are of most relevance to the working environment . Subsequent data could be used to support the RCVS in raising awareness of OOH fatigue in the profession and to better support veterinary professionals facing increased workloads in an already high-pressure environment [ 43 ] . More studies without Covid-19 restrictions , over a greater timescale and with more participants would enable this .
34 Veterinary Nursing Journal