With research showing a link between staff wellbeing and patient care, our new study seeks to determine if SAD lamps could boost radiographer wellbeing during darker months
If you struggle to get some sunshine during the winter months, spare a thought for some of our frontline staff, who spend most of their working days in windowless scanning and control rooms, with little opportunity to experience natural daylight.
As the autumn and winter months bring reduced daylight hours, a proposed new study at Paul Strickland Scanner Centre (PSSC) aims to evaluate whether specially designed artificial lighting can improve wellbeing and mood amongst the radiography workforce. Pending official research approval, the study will be launched in the coming weeks and focuses on addressing the effects of Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), a common condition during the colder months that can lead to symptoms of depression and disrupt circadian rhythms due to reduced sunlight exposure.
Sunlight is a natural mood enhancer, playing a crucial role in regulating melatonin and serotonin levels in the body. With diminished sunlight during autumn and winter, many individuals experience a decrease in serotonin — a key neurotransmitter responsible for mood regulation — which can trigger SAD. This condition is especially concerning for healthcare professionals, who are already vulnerable to burnout due to high demands for care and other factors. Ensuring high levels of wellbeing amongst healthcare staff is particularly important, as there is a clear link with patient safety and outcomes, according to a systematic review published in the journal PLOS ONE in 2016.
‘There is a clear link with patient safety and outcomes’
The radiography workforce is particularly vulnerable to SAD, as scanner and control areas generally lack natural daylight and many staff will arrive at work before dawn and only leave after the sun has set.
The study at Paul Strickland Scanner Centre is called the Bright Light Therapy (BLT) project and involves staff across all levels. Each participant will be supplied with their own SAD lamp for the duration of the study. The lamps are designed to simulate morning sunlight. The study will unfold over two phases, beginning with an initial four-week period, during which participants will use the SAD lamps daily for a prescribed exposure time.
To assess the effects of the therapy, data will be gathered using a recognised patient health questionnaire. Following this, participants will be monitored for an additional four weeks to evaluate the long-term effects of the intervention.
for safety, image quality and other reasons.
In the second phase of the study, participants who wish to proceed, will continue the BLT for a further two-weeks but with an increased exposure time. This phase aims to determine whether extending the BLT sessions will have a greater impact on mood and overall wellbeing. Participants will again be monitored for four weeks post intervention to capture the lasting effects of the therapy.
Significance of the study
Bright Light Therapy has become the first line of treatment for SAD, demonstrating effectiveness in reducing melatonin production and boosting serotonin levels. By replicating the benefits of natural sunlight, it helps increase energy levels, alertness, and focus, while also improving staff morale — a critical factor in maintaining a resilient healthcare workforce.
Mrs Cherith Desmeules, Strategy Lead and Service Manager at Paul Strickland Scanner Centre, is overseeing the project. She said: “This study at the Paul Strickland Scanner Centre represents an important step in exploring innovative ways to support the mental health and wellbeing of the radiography workforce during the challenging autumn and winter months. The findings could have significant implications for the broader adoption of BLT as a preventive measure against SAD in healthcare settings. The findings could have significant implications for the broader adoption of BLT as a preventive measure against SAD in healthcare settings’
