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Completed

NCT Number: NCT02230774

Hydration Amongst Nurses and Doctors Oncall

The main purpose of this study is to assess and compare the hydration status of medical and nursing staff and to investigate the relationship between the hydration status, cognitive function and serum cortisol (marker of stress).

We hypothesise that a significant proportion of doctors and nurses will be dehydrated at the end of their working day. Some, as in other occupations, may be dehydrated at the start of their working day. This is likely to be associated with impairment in cognitive performance at the end of the working day compared to the beginning and expected to be more pronounced after a night shift. There may be less noticeable difference amongst nursing staff given the protected break time. Dehydration and associated impairment in cognition is of important clinical value as it can impact patient care. participants will be involved in the study for two shifts (one day and one night), aiming at 15 medical and 15 surgical nurses as well as 15 medical (total 15 day and 15 night shifts from each group) and surgical doctors (total 15 day and 15 night shifts from each group). Those that do not work both day and night shifts will participate for only one shift and a new participant will be recruited until target number of shifts is achieved.

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Key information

Conditions

Dehydration Metabolic Diseases Nutritional and Metabolic Diseases Pathologic Processes Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms Water-Electrolyte Imbalance

Age range

18 year–65 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Observational

Primary location

Queens Medical Centre

Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, NG7 2UH, United Kingdom

About this study

End points

  • To assess the hydration status of hospital staff nurses and doctors oncall at work by measuring the following:
  • Urine and serum osmolality
  • Urine mass produced during the shift
  • Kidney function (U &Es)
  • Bioimpedance measures

2- To assess the effect of hydration on status of cognitive function and subjective feelings.

3- To assess the association between hydration status on stress hormone (cortisol) levels.

Inclusion criteria

All medical and nursing staff working on acute medical and surgical admissions at the Queens Medical Centre Nottingham.

Exclusion criteria

Pregnancy Pre-existing kidney disease Patients on diuretics Unwell in the past 6 week with acute illness that warrants hospital admission or prescribed medication.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • All medical and nursing staff working on acute medical and surgical admissions at the Queens Medical Centre Nottingham

Exclusion criteria

  • Pregnancy Pre-existing kidney disease Patients on diuretics Unwell in the past 6 week with acute illness that warrants hospital admission or prescribed medication.

Treatment and study plan

Primary outcomes

  1. Assess the prevalence of dehydration in nurses and doctors oncall.

    Time frame: Participants will be followed up for the duration of their shift, approximately 12- 14 hours.

    Using urine osmolality as a marker of hydration we aim to assess the prevalence of dehydration in health care professionals before and after day and night shifts. Comparing nurses and doctors oncall, day and night as well diffrence between those working in medical and surgical admissions.

Secondary outcomes

  1. Impact of hydration status on cognitive function

    Time frame: Participants will be followed up for the duration of their shift, approximately 12- 14 hours.

    We aim to assess the impact of hydration on key executive cognitive before and after day and night shifts, comparing day and night using the following tests:

    • Visual search
    • Stroop
    • Sternberg
    • Corsi

  2. The impact of hydration status on serum cortisol concentrations

    Time frame: Participants will be followed up for the duration of their shift, approximately 12- 14 hours.

    The impact of hydration status on serum cortisol concentrations as a surrogate marker of stress will be assessed before and after day and night shifts. with day and night shifts assessed separately given the diurnal variations in cortisol.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

University of Nottingham

Other

Collaborators

  • European Hydration Institute
  • Loughborough University

Registry information

Acronym: HANDsOn

Important dates

Study start
2013
Primary completion
2014
Study completion
2014
First posted
Sep 3, 2014
Registry last updated
Sep 3, 2014

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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