Evening Blue-Depleted Lighting in Hospital Wards

Registration: NCT03788993; ISRCTN12419665

Status: Registered

Tags: Blue-blocking, Blue-blocking glasses, Blue-depleted, Circadian, Clinical trial, Fatigue & alertness, Healthcare workers, Hospital, Light, Light & environment, Lighting, Melatonin, Night-shift workers, Practical, Recovery, Recruiting, Scheduling, Shift work, Sleep, Trial registration

External URL: https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT03788993

Summary

This registered clinical trial will test whether adjusting hospital ward lighting in the evening to a warmer, blue-depleted spectrum can improve outcomes for night-shift staff. The study uses a ward-level crossover design, comparing standard hospital lighting with blue-depleted lighting during evening hours. Researchers will measure effects on melatonin suppression, post-shift sleep quality, and other circadian-related outcomes. Results have not yet been published.

Why It Matters For Night Shift Workers and Night Owls

Blue light is known to suppress melatonin, making it harder to rest after working through the night. By testing whether warmer, blue-depleted light near the end of a shift supports better sleep, this study could provide practical guidance on how workplace lighting affects recovery. For night-shift workers, the findings may help shape evidence-based lighting strategies that reduce circadian strain and make transitions between work and rest easier.

Notes

ISRCTN: 12419665; pragmatic ward setting.

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