The effectiveness of bright light exposure in shift‑worker nurses: a meta‑analysis
Summary
This meta-analysis reviewed five intervention studies of bright light exposure among night-shift nurses. The fixed-effects analysis suggested that timed bright light during shifts reduced sleepiness, improved alertness, and lengthened daytime sleep after work. However, because of the small number of studies and large differences in methods (duration, timing, intensity), the more conservative random-effects analysis found no statistically significant benefits. The authors concluded that while bright light shows promise, current evidence is limited and more well-designed, larger trials are needed.
Why It Matters For Night Shift Workers and Night Owls
For night-shift nurses, bright light exposure may help fight sleepiness and support better recovery sleep — but the evidence isn’t yet strong enough to say it always works. The mixed findings suggest that timing, brightness, and duration of light matter, and poorly planned exposure may not help. Still, light remains a promising non-drug option for managing alertness on nights, and future research may clarify the best ways to use it. Until then, workers and managers should view it as a potential aid, but not a guaranteed fix.
Notes
Open access on PMC.