The Impact of Night Float on Anesthesiology Resident Sleep Patterns

Residency training requires hospital presence twenty-four hours a day. At times this necessitates working extended shifts, including night shifts, resulting in altered sleep patterns and sleep deprivation. Since 2003, the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) has enforced duty hour regulations limiting shift length, the amount of weekly hours worked, and other variables governing shift work. Numerous studies have sought to determine the impact of duty hour regulations on the quality of patient care and resident education.

In addition to affecting patient care, medical resident sleep deprivation also has the potential to affect residents' well-being and their ability to perform basic tasks. A study in surgical residents showed reduced efficiency and safety in performing simulated laparoscopy following a period of sleep deprivation that was worse with novices compared to experienced residents. Recently, UVA found that resident physicians have greater difficulty controlling speed and driving performance with increased reaction times and minor and major lapses in attention in the driving simulator following six consecutive night shifts.

To comply with duty hour restrictions, residency programs have adopted various strategies including the creation of night float systems where residents are required to work multiple nights in a row. Reduced shift length has been associated with decreased medical errors, motor vehicle collisions, and percutaneous injuries.Surgical residents who transitioned to a night float system from 24-hour call every 3rd day reported reduced fatigue, more time for sleep and independent reading and increased family time, while nurses and patients reported improved communication and quality of patient care. In a pilot study of urology residents assigned to a 12-hour day shift (Monday-Friday), 12-hour night float (Sunday-Friday) or 24-hour home call, actigraphy was used to measure total sleep time, sleep latency and depth of sleep. Night float did not impact total sleep time or quality of sleep. However, these studies did not establish the optimal shift duration