Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39747347›Full record

SynthesisScientific reports2025

A systematic review and meta-analysis on light therapy for sleep disorders in shift workers.

Chenyao Zhao, Nuoyi Li, Wenqing Miao, Ying He, Yandan Lin

Abstract readSystematic ReviewMeta-Analysis
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Scientific reports, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 9 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
9citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

9 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Trial
  3. Review
  4. Article
  5. Review
  6. Review
  7. Review
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors.

Chenyao ZhaoInstitute for Electric Light Sources, School of Information Science and Technology, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200438, China.
Nuoyi LiInstitute for Electric Light Sources, School of Information Science and Technology, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200438, China.
Wenqing MiaoInstitute for Electric Light Sources, School of Information Science and Technology, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200438, China.
Ying HeNaval Medical Center, Naval Medical University, Shanghai, 200433, China.
Yandan LinInstitute for Electric Light Sources, School of Information Science and Technology, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200438, China. ydlin@fudan.edu.cn.

Funding

The Science and Technology Commission of the Military 23AH0801
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Sleep disorders constitute a significant disruption for shift workers. Beyond medical interventions, phototherapy is recognized as an effective approach to significantly alleviate sleep disorders, particularly among individuals engaged in shift work. However, the effective dose and efficacy evaluation of phototherapy have not yet been determined. This study conducted a systematic review across five databases from January 1, 1990, to December 31, 2023. A total of 11 articles were selected for meta-analysis using a random-effects model. The results showed that light therapy significantly improved the total sleep time (TST) (MD = 32.54, p < 0.00001) and sleep efficiency (SE) (MD = 2.91, p = 0.007) of shift workers compared to the control group. Subgroup analysis and regression analysis implied that medium illuminance (900-6000 lx) for a long treatment duration (≥ 1 h) during night was more effective in extending total sleep time, whereas higher-illuminance and increasing dose (lx*h) of light therapy was more beneficial for SE. In summary, light therapy has a degree of efficacy in increasing the overall sleep duration and efficiency for shift workers, the findings of the current study contribute reference and evidence for dose setting and experimental design of phototherapy on shift workers' sleep in clinical and research.

Indexed as

PhototherapyHumansShift Work ScheduleSleepSleep Disorders, Circadian RhythmSleep Wake DisordersLight therapyMeta-analysisShift workerSleep disorder

Identifiers

PMID39747347
PMCPMC11696139

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.