Assessment of Dietary Habits Among Healthcare Workers in Morning and Shift Work

Background: A proper diet plays a major role in preserving thequality of life and health for each individual. For healthcareworkers, shift work can result in irregular and poor-qualitydietary intake, which can lead to the development of healthproblems and chronic diseases.Aim: This study aimed to analyse dietary habits amonghealthcare workers based on their work schedules (morningshifts vs. rotating/shift work) using validated dietaryassessment tools.Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted fromDecember 2023 to March 2024 in various departments ofthe Merkur Clinical Hospital. A total of 147 participants(physicians, nurses, and healthcare assistants) were surveyedusing two validated instruments: the Mediterranean DietAdherence Screener (MEDAS) and the Mediterranean DietServing Score (MDSS). Descriptive statistics and t-tests wereused to compare dietary patterns between groups, withp-values <0.05 considered statistically signifi cant.Results: A statistically signifi cant difference was observedin dessert consumption, with morning shift workersconsuming sweets more frequently (M = 3.67, SD = 2.39) thanshift workers (M = 2.70, SD = 2.21; p < 0.05). In contrast, shiftworkers consumed signifi cantly more wine than morningshift workers (M = 1.04, SD = 1.71 vs. M = 0.41, SD = 0.75;p < 0.05).Conclusion: The fi ndings suggest that work schedules areassociated with distinct dietary patterns among healthcareworkers. Morning shift workers show a preference forsweets, while shift workers consume more alcohol. Theseresults highlight the need for targeted workplace dietaryinterventions, including improved access to healthy mealsand strategies to promote balanced eating across all shifts.