2196 Afr. J. Biomed. Res. Vol. 27, No.3s (September) 2024 Yogita Kalra et.al
https://africanjournalofbiomedicalresearch.com/index.php/AJBR
Afr. J. Biomed. Res. Vol. 27(3s) (September2024); 2196-2206
Research Article
Psychosomatic Complains Experience By Nurses Doing Night
Duty In Delhi Government Hospital
Yogita Kalra
1*,
Prabhjyot Kour
2
1*
Research scholar: Department of Psychology, Lovely Professional University, Phagwara, Punjab. ORCID:
https://orcid.org/0009-0009-5136-9098 New Delhi - 110018 Email: sisteryogita@yahoo.com Phone:
9818717237
2
Present affiliation: Assistant professor, Department of Psychology, Lovely Professional University,
Phagwara, Punjab. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0009-4430-7593 Telephone number: 7006466398
Email address: dr.prabhjyotkour@gmail.com
*Corresponding Author:- Yogita Kalra
*Research scholar: Department of Psychology, Lovely Professional University, Phagwara, Punjab. ORCID:
https://orcid.org/0009-0009-5136-9098 New Delhi - 110018 Email: sisteryogita@yahoo.com Phone:
9818717237
ABSTRACT
This article discusses the psychosomatic complaints faced by night shift nurses in Delhi government hospitals. A cross-
sectional study of 200 male and female nurses using a Likert scale questionnaire evaluated psychosomatic complaints
related to night shifts. Both physical and psychological symptoms were recorded, with age and years of experience
considered as demographic factors. The findings revealed that female nurses reported higher levels of psychosomatic
complaints than males, with common issues including muscle and joint pain, psychological distress, and poor sleep
quality. Fatigue, headaches, irritability, concentration problems, and insomnia were frequently reported, while loneliness,
hypertension, and gastrointestinal issues were less common. Nurses aged 26 to 45, with 1 to 20 years of experience, were
more likely to experience these symptoms. The study emphasizes that addressing these concerns through improved rest
times and mental health support could reduce the physical and psychological strain on nursing staff, thereby improving
their well-being and job satisfaction. Clinical evidence suggests the need for targeted interventions to support nurses
working night shifts.
Keywords: psychosomatic complaints, nurse, night shift, stress, anxiety
*Author for correspondence: Email: sisteryogita@yahoo.com
Submitted- 02/09/2024 Reviewed- 03/10/2024
DOI: https://doi.org/10.53555/AJBR.v27i3S.2576
© 2024 The Author(s).
This article has been published under the terms of Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial 4.0 International
License (CC BY-NC 4.0), which permits noncommercial unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium,
provided that the following statement is provided. “This article has been published in the African Journal of Biomedical
Research”
Introduction
In the modern world, night shifts are practiced by
approximately 5% of nurses, with 20% of individuals in
Europe and America working nights (Kane, 2009). Shift
labor is seen as essential in the healthcare system to
provide continuity of service in hospitals and
nursing institutions. Shift work is primarily
characterized by rotating and planning, and nurses are
mainly bound to timetables that involve night shift work
and offer 24-hour care. Night shift workers are "creators