Sleep quality and visuospatial performance in rotating shifts workers from a petrochemical company

Working rotating shifts may cause poorer sleep quality and, consequently, negatively affect visuospatial performance. However, studies linking sleep and visuospatial perception show conflicting results and are infrequent with regard to shift workers in their working environment. We evaluated the connection between sleep quality and visuospatial perception in 16 workers on rotating shifts from a petrochemical company (aged 29–53 years), using the Rey Complex Figure Test, the Sleep Diary, the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and the Psychomotor Vigilance Test. The PSQI data indicated poor sleep quality. Two of the participants had low visuospatial performance, and reaction time was slower at the end of the night shift. Better sleep quality was associated with better visuospatial performance in the day shift (rho = 0.66, p < 0.05) and on days off. The results suggest that a good sleep quality may be associated with better visuospatial performance.