Effects of shift work in air traffic controllers: a systematic review based on the Prisma method

Air Traffic Controllers (ATC) perform very complex functions of great responsibility. Due to the necessities of the job, they are submitted to a work shift system which makes their schedule irregular. The alternation of work shifts can result in effects that cause damages to their work performance and quality of life. Objective: To explore the effects of shift work in ATCs through a systematic review based on the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis model (PRISMA). Methodological procedures: The systematic review was conducted based on three databases: PubMed, Science Direct and Web of Science. Results: A total of 748 articles were found, 487 from PubMed, 240 from Science Direct and 21 from Web of Science; seven articles were included in the review after the application of eligibility criteria. Conclusions: The researches showed effects that affect mainly the night shifts, caused by alteration in sleep quality, somnolence and fatigue, resulting in decreased performance and increasing the risk of air accidents