CAMPUS
Earlier night shifts for physicians improves sleep, study shows
Janis ReeserColumbia Daily Tribune
Aug. 19, 2026, 3:48 a.m. CT
- A University of Missouri study found moving overnight shifts two hours earlier improved physician sleep.
- The earlier schedule was linked to lower levels of biological markers for inflammation.
- The study suggests aligning work schedules more closely with the body’s natural circadian rhythm has health benefits.
Researchers at the University of Missouri found that moving overnight emergency medicine shifts two hours earlier was linked to better sleep and lower levels of inflammation among physicians
The findings were announced Aug. 17, according to a community announcement. The study examined emergency medicine physicians who regularly rotate through overnight schedules and compared outcomes after changing their night shift from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. to an earlier 8 p.m. to 4 a.m. schedule
Matthew Robinson, chair of the Department of Emergency Medicine in the University of Missouri School of Medicine, led the research to determine whether a relatively small adjustment could reduce some of the health challenges associated with overnight work
Researchers tracked biological markers tied to inflammation and monitored sleep patterns among participating physicians. The results suggested that shifting more sleep into traditional nighttime hours helped align rest with the body’s natural circadian rhythm
Previous research has connected circadian rhythm disruption with elevated risks for conditions including heart disease, diabetes and burnout
“What sparked my interest in this work was reading a lot of previous research that shows night-shift workers are at higher risk for cardiovascular disease, cancer and earlier death, so the disruption to our circadian rhythm is an important topic from a wellness perspective,” Robinson said in the announcement
Earlier shifts linked to lower inflammation
As part of the study, researchers measured white blood cell counts and platelet counts before and after the scheduling change. Elevated levels of those markers can indicate increased inflammation, which has been associated with a range of chronic health conditions
After physicians adopted the earlier overnight schedule, both markers declined, according to the study. Researchers said the findings suggest the schedule adjustment may help reduce inflammation among emergency medicine physicians working overnight rotations
The study also used Fitbit devices to monitor sleep. Researchers reported that participants experienced more restorative sleep after the schedule change, helping them feel better rested
“If we can collect data that shows changing the night-shift schedule actually makes our physicians healthier, perhaps this change in scheduling can be implemented more widely throughout health care and other industries with night-shift workers,” Robinson said in the announcement
Physicians report quality-of-life improvements
Robinson said that participating physicians reported benefits beyond sleep and health measures
“Changing the schedule allowed them more time to be awake during the day, and that gave them more time for social engagements and time with family, which is really meaningful in terms of having a fulfilling life,” Robinson said in the announcement
The group ultimately chose to continue using the earlier overnight schedule after the initial research period ended
“While the initial experiment ended, we voted to keep the new schedule in place and have been using it ever since,” Robinson said in the announcement. “This work reflects Mizzou’s commitment to improving the health and well-being of its health care employees, and that ultimately translates to better patient care.”
Researchers said that future studies could explore whether similar benefits extend to nurses working 12-hour shifts and other overnight health care employees
The study, “Casino schedules reduce inflammatory biomarkers and improve sleep in emergency medicine physicians during shift work,” was published in The American Journal of Emergency Medicine
This story was produced with the assistance of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Journalists were involved in every step of the review, editing and publishing process. Learn more at cm.usatoday.com/ethical-conduct
