Chronotype and work accidents in the nursing team of a surgical clinic

This quantitative, transversal study aimed to analyze the association between chronotype and the occurrence of work accidents in nursing workers. A total of 47 individuals participated from the Surgical Clinic of a teaching hospital in the Brazilian state of Río Grande do Sul. Data collection took place in July-August 2012, using a questionnaire for socio-demographic/occupational characterization and Horne and Östberg's Morningness-eveningness questionnaire. The data were analyzed using the SPSS software, version 15.0. The results evidenced the prevalence of individuals with the morning chronotype. The majority had been involved in work accidents, with the greatest occurrence being related to the concordance between the chronotype and the work shift. A significant association was observed between work accidents and shift, and between chronotype and shift. The data reinforce the need to raise workers' awareness regarding the importance of identifying the prototype so as to contribute to the quality of life and safety at work