Dietary behavior and its relation with lifestyle, rotating work shifts and job satisfaction among nurses of Ain Shams university hospitals

Background: Shift work induces stress, disturbs family life and interrupts regular meal schedules. Few studies have addressed the association between shift work and abnormal eating behavior among hospital nurses. Objectives: The objective of this study was to determine the relationship between eating behavior and personal lifestyles, job satisfaction, and gastrointestinal symptoms among nurses working in night shift. Methodology: cross-sectional study with internal comparisons of a sample of 400 nurses working in rotating shift for at least one year in the Ain Shams University Hospitals. Data about socio-demographic characteristics, work conditions, dietary behavior and job satisfactions were collected using three questionnaires. Weight and height were measured for calculating body mass index. Results: Overall, the majority of nurses had semi-healthy diet (89%), 8.8% of them had Unhealthy Diet while only 2.2% ate a healthy diet. Middle Age group, smoking, longer duration of work in rotating shifts and working in surgery departments are factors associated with unhealthy diet. No significant difference was found between nurses with different dietary behaviors and job satisfaction; however those with unhealthy diet have more frequent abdominal symptoms compared to those with semi healthy or healthy diet. Conclusions and recommendation: Duration of shift work was positively associated with abnormal eating behavior among nurses working in Ain Shams university hospitals. More health promotional programs should be targeted towards hospital nurses whose duties require frequent shifts to enhance healthy eating.