Are residents' extended shifts associated with adverse events?
2006
Impact of Extended Shifts on Medical Errors
Sample size: 2737
publication
Evidence: moderate
Author Information
Author(s): Mariana Szklo-Coxe
Primary Institution: University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health
Hypothesis
Are residents' extended shifts associated with adverse events?
Conclusion
Extended shifts for medical interns are linked to increased medical errors and adverse events.
Supporting Evidence
- Fatigue-related medical errors increased 3.5-fold with one to four extended shifts.
- Fatigue-related adverse events had odds ratios of 8.7 and 7.0 for different levels of extended shifts.
- Interns working more than five extended shifts reported more attentional failures.
Takeaway
When doctors work long hours, they make more mistakes that can hurt patients.
Methodology
A nationwide Web-based survey where interns reported their work hours and associated medical errors.
Potential Biases
Interns may have over-attributed errors to fatigue or sleep deprivation.
Limitations
The study may have inflated associations due to how questions about errors were framed.
Participant Demographics
Interns in their first postgraduate year.
Statistical Information
Confidence Interval
95% CI, 3.4–22
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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