Objective: Shift work and work stress have been associated with multiple negative effects on health and have been regarded as important stress factors that activate the autonomic nervous system. The aim of the present research was to compare self-reported stress and autonomic nervous system activity in male shift staff (doctor, health officer, patient caregiver) working in hospital.

Materials and Methods: Doctors (n=30), health officers (30) and patient caregivers (30) working at the hospital were included in the study. Autonomous nersvous system (ANS) activity was determined by heart rate variability (HRV) and self-reported stress was assessed by State and Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI-II). HRV is derived from short-term electrocardiogram recordings, carried out both at day- and night -shifts, and included standard deviation of NN intervals (SDNN (ms); low frequency (LF); total power (TP) parameters.

Results: SDNN value (42±3) was found to be higher in the doctors than the caregivers group (32±2, p=0.014). LF was higher in the doctors group compared to the patient caregivers group (805±102, 555±97 respectively, p=0.046). TP [1651 (1129-2903), p=0.065) was not different in the doctors group compared to the health officers group [1466 (764-2313)] and the patient caregivers group [786 (508-1821)]. STAI-II was higher in-patient caregivers group [45(42-48) points] than the doctors group [40(35-45) points, P=0.002].

Conclusion: It has been observed that job status has different impacts on heart rate variability even under same working environment. Moreover, although the doctors work longer hours per week, the data suggest that they have better autonomic nervous system activity and stress perception.