ArticleJournal of sleep research2026
Quick Returns: A Quasi-Experimental Field Study on the Effects on Sleep, Fatigue and Cognitive Performance.
Article in Journal of sleep research, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.
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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.
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6 authors.
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Abstract
As sleep restriction has negative effects on performance, ensuring sufficient sleep for shift workers is essential. Quick returns (< 11 h off between shifts) shorten sleep and are associated with increased fatigue and risk of accidents, but there is limited research on other aspects of cognitive performance and work performance. The aim of the present quasi-experimental field study was to investigate the effects of quick returns on objective and subjective measures of sleep, fatigue and cognitive performance. In total 36 newly graduated nurses were followed during two pre-scheduled work periods, with and without a quick return (evening-day-day vs. day-day-day). They kept diaries of sleep and work, wore actigraphy wristbands to record sleep and performed 3 × 3 min smartphone-based cognitive tests (simple reaction time, episodic memory and Stroop) several times daily. Quick returns were found to shorten sleep by 46 min on average, and participants felt less rested in the morning and sleepier throughout the day. Sleep fragmentation and sleep efficiency did not differ between conditions but participants reported poorer sleep quality. Although the nurses reported cognitive impairments after a quick return, the estimated effects on simple attention, episodic memory and Stroop were small and overlapped zero. There were also indications of lingering fatigue on the second day shift after a quick return, but estimates are uncertain. In sum, quick returns shorten sleep and decrease subjective alertness, which could contribute to increased fatigue-related risk at work, but people seem able to mobilise necessary resources to maintain performance on short cognitive tasks.
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