Effects of Operational Naps on Blood Pressure and Performance Among Night Shift Workers
Recruiting now · Not applicable
Conditions studied: Shift Work
In brief
Night shift work schedules disrupt sleep and have a negative impact on cardiovascular health. Most who work in public safety occupations and in healthcare work night shifts. These workers experience abnormal blood pressure during night shifts and are at greater risk of cardiovascular disease. Napping during night shifts can help to restore blood pressure patterns to a more normal pattern and may help to reduce risk of cardiovascular disease. Naps may also have an impact on alertness and performance immediately upon waking. The overarching goal of this study is to determine which duration of a nap taken during simulated night shift work has the greatest impact blood pressure and post-nap performance. Researchers will compare 5 nap durations to see which has the greatest impact on blood pressure patterns and post-nap psychomotor performance. Researchers hypothesize that longer naps will lead to improved blood pressure outcomes and shorter naps will contribute to better performance after waking. Findings will help employers and employees who work night shifts determine how best to incorporate brief naps during night shift work.
Key facts
- Study ID
- NCT07217769
- Run by
- University of Pittsburgh
- People needed
- 130
- Starts
- 2026-05-07
- Expected to finish
- 2030-08-31
- Last updated by the study team
- 2026-06-03
Who can join
Age: 18 and older. Sex: any. Healthy volunteers: accepted.
You may qualify if…
- non-pregnant adults (>18 years of age)
- certified public safety/healthcare shift worker
- is an active shift worker
- resides within the Western Pennsylvania region within reasonable driving distance
You may not qualify if…
- current use of medication for cardiovascular disease (e.g., hypertension)
- prior or current diagnosis of sleep apnea, narcolepsy, restless leg syndrome, ischemic heart disease, heart failure, stroke, chronic kidney disease, chronic liver disease, rheumatologic disease requiring prescription medication, and cancer requiring treatment in past 2 years
- undiagnosed severe sleep apnea (Apnea-Hypopnea Index >30) based on at-home test
- Abstains from caffeine or reports adverse effects from caffeine use
Where it is running
- University of Pittsburgh — Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States (enrolling)
Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov
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