Safety, Fatigue, and Continuity in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU)

The overall goal of our research is to describe the optimal scheduling pattern for frontline physicians working in ICUs. Our hypothesis is that call schedule associated reductions in fatigue are counterbalanced by reductions in continuity, resulting in no change in the safety of patients.

This is a prospective before-after, two-centre study using a mixed-methods design. We will apply 3 work schedules, each for a period of 2 months over a 6 month period in the adult medical-surgical ICUs at two university affiliated hospitals in Toronto. In this mixed methods approach, quantitative and qualitative data will be collected concurrently, analysed separately, and their results compared, to produce an integrated interpretation of the impact of work schedule on the relationship between continuity and fatigue.

This will evaluate healthcare continuity and fatigue, describe adverse events in ICUs, identify the two best resident schedules for subsequent comparison, and demonstrate the feasibility of a future multi-centre study of physician scheduling.

Inclusion criteria

• All residents at participating ICUs starting a rotation in Fall 2008
• Staff members supervising and/or working with participating residents
• Patients/family members under the care of the participating residents
• Patients admitted to participating ICUs

Exclusion criteria

• Lack of informed consent