The impact of shift patterns on junior doctors' perceptions of fatigue, training, work/life balance and the role of social support

Background: The organisation of junior doctors' work hours has been radically altered following the partial implementation of the European Working Time Directive. Poorly designed shift schedules cause excessive disruption to shift workers' circadian rhythms. Method: Interviews and focus groups were used to explore perceptions among junior doctors and hospital managers regarding the impact of the European Working Time Directive on patient care and doctors' well-being. Results: Four main themes were identified. Under "Doctors shift rotas", doctors deliberated the merits and demerits of working seven nights in row. They also discussed the impact on fatigue of long sequences of day shifts. "Education and training" focused on concerns about reduced on-the-job learning opportunities under the new working time arrangements and also about the difficulties of finding time and energy to study. "Work/life balance" reflected the conflict between the positive aspects of working on-call or at night and the impact on life outside work. "Social support structures" focused on the role of morale and team spirit. Good support structures in the work place counteracted and compensated for the effects of negative role stressors, and arduous and unsocial work schedules. Conclusions: The impact of junior doctors' work schedules is influenced by the nature of specific shift sequences, educational considerations, issues of work/life balance and by social support systems. Poorly designed shift rotas can have negative impacts on junior doctors' professional performance and educational training, with implications for clinical practice, patient care and the welfare of junior doctors.4 page(s

The impact of junior doctors’ worktime arrangements on their fatigue and well-being

Objective Many doctors report working excessively demanding schedules that comply with the European Working Time Directive (EWTD). We compared groups of junior doctors working on different schedules in order to identify which features of schedule design most negatively affected their fatigue and well-being in recent weeks.Methods Completed by 336 doctors, the questionnaires focused on the respondents\u27 personal circumstances, work situation, work schedules, sleep, and perceptions of fatigue, work-life balance and psychological strain. Results Working 7 consecutive nights was associated with greater accumulated fatigue and greater work life interference, compared with working just 3 or 4 nights. Having only I rest day after working nights was associated with increased fatigue. Working a weekend on-call between 2 consecutive working weeks was associated with increased work-life interference. Working frequent on-calls (either on weekends or during the week) was associated with increased work-life interference and psychological strain. Inter-shift intervals o

Nocturia, enuresis and snoring: an unusual combination in an adult?

A 41-year-old man was seen in a respiratory clinic with symptoms of snoring, sleepiness during the day, enuresis and nocturia. He was waking up a minimum of 6–7 times to micturate every night. He had a past medical history of hypertension. His medication included lisinopril, omeprazole and simvastatin. He denied significant alcohol intake. On examination he was obese with a body mass index of 32 kg/m2, his blood pressure was raised at 170/120 mmHg. Chest examination revealed clear lung fields and otherwise unremarkable general examination. His collar size was 45 cm. His blood tests suggested normal renal, thyroid, calcium and blood sugar profiles. The mid-stream urine did not show any evidence of urinary tract infection. He had an elevated score of 15/24 on the Epworth Sleepiness scale (a questionnaire tool to assess daytime sleepiness).He subsequently had an overnight oximetry, which showed 4% oxygenation desaturation index of 80.6 per hour (Figure 1). This is consistent with severe obstructive sleep apnoea hypopnoea syndrome. He was commenced on continuous positive airway pressure with substantial improvement in his sleep apnoea symptoms, including nocturic frequency, and his enuresis is completely resolved

Sleep deprivation and junior doctors' performance and confidence

Purpose of study: To determine whether sleep deprivation affects not only junior doctors' performance in answering medical questions but whether their ability to judge their own performance is also affected by lack of sleep. Methods: A questionnaire based follow up study in two district general hospitals of the Carmarthenshire NHS Trust. Eleven house officers and 15 senior house officers (SHOs) within the medical directorate participating in the on-call rota were recruited between July 1999 and May 2000. Results: SHOs answered significantly more questions correctly (p=0.04) and were more confident than house officers when they were either correct or incorrect (p<0.001). Length of unbroken or continuous sleep is associated with more correct answers (p=0.03) and higher energy (p=0.09) and confidence (p=0.07) scores self rated by the profile of mood states. Length of continuous sleep was not related to the appropriateness of confidence, as measured by the "within-subject confidence-accuracy correlation" (p=0.919). Conclusions: SHOs performed better than house officers even allowing for sleep loss. Sleep deprivation had adverse effects on mood and performance but junior doctors can still monitor their performance and retain insight into their own ability when sleep deprived