The Impact of Night Float on Anesthesiology Resident Sleep Patterns

Completed

• Conditions: Sleep Disorders, Circadian Rhythm
• Interventions: Other: EEG monitor; Other: FitBit

• Registration Number: NCT03325244
• Lead Sponsor: University of Virginia

Brief Summary

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

Detailed Description

Participants wear a portable EEG monitor and a FITBIT activity monitor while attempting to sleep while on night call and at home for a baseline reading

Study Timeline

• Study Start: 2017-04-07
• Study First Submitted: 2017-04-07
• Study First Submitted QC: 2017-10-24
• Study First Posted: 2017-10-30
• Primary Completion: 2018-01-19
• Study Completion: 2018-01-19
• Status Verified: 2021-04
• Last Update Submitted: 2021-04-26
• Last Update Posted: 2021-04-27

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: COMPLETED
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 20

Inclusion Criteria

• postgraduate year (PGY) 2, 3, and 4 Anesthesia residents

Exclusion Criteria

• history of pacemaker or other medical device
• unable or unwilling to consent and comply with the protocol
• history of sleep disorder

Study & Design

• Study Type: OBSERVATIONAL
• Study Design: Not specified

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
All participants	FitBit	All participants will use a portable EEG monitor and FITBIT to monitor sleep and activity before and after night call
All participants	EEG monitor	All participants will use a portable EEG monitor and FITBIT to monitor sleep and activity before and after night call

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
sleep time	daily over 13 day period (Day 1 -Day 12)	total sleep time as measured by EEG monitor

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
activity level	daily over 13 day period (Day 1-Day 12)	• as measured by activity monitor

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

University of Virginia Health System; 🇺🇸 Charlottesville, Virginia, United States