Extended Duration Work Shifts Risky To The Safety, Well-Being Of Medical Interns, Patients

Shift Work Working an extended duration shift can pose a risk to not only the safety and well-being of medical interns, but also to that of their patients, according to a research abstract presented at SLEEP 2007, the 21st Annual Meeting of the Associated Professional Sleep Societies (APSS).

The study, authored by Laura Barger, PhD, of Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, was based on 2,737 physicians in their first post-graduate year, who participated in a nationwide Web-based survey, completing a total of 17,003 monthly reports.

A regression analysis was performed to determine the relationship between the number of extended duration work shifts (greater than or equal to 24 hours in length), reported medical errors and a self-reported measure of stress.

It was discovered that the reporting of medical errors and the number of extended duration shifts worked in a month were both significant predictors of stress.

Compared to months in which no extended duration shifts were worked, interns working five or more extended duration shifts had seven times greater odds of reporting at least one fatigue-related significant medical error that resulted in an adverse patient event and reported 300 percent more fatigue-related preventable adverse events resulting in the death of the patient.

Moreover, interns who reported a medical error that resulted in an adverse patient outcome were more than three times as likely to report high stress in that month.

Shift work and shift work with extended hours refers to non-standard work schedule. Shift work can have significant adverse effects on health, work place accidents and effect on shift worker�s life.

Shift work disrupts your circadian rhythm. Circadian rhythm is an internal body clock that is synchronized to a 24 hour period. Extended shift workers suffer from sleep disturbances and the physiological consequences that result from it.

Extended shift workers have several negative health effects. Some of the health problems are increased heart disease, increased fatigue, sleep disorders, gastric ulcers, accident rates, social problems, psychiatric disorders and gastro intestinal problems.

Extended duration work shifts can cause personal problems like psychiatric illness, drug abuse, heavy domestic work load, and epilepsy.

Preventing shift work problem:

Workplace lighting should be improved
Shift worker should not undertake more than two consecutive night shifts
Break between works is required and move around time to time to interact with other workers
Shift workers should follow a healthy lifestyle such as eating and sleeping patterns
Shift worker should sleep in a quiet, calm, cool and dark environment for better sleep after the shift work
Restrict the intake of coffee, alcohol and nicotine as it further disturbs your sleep
Healthy eating like fruits and vegetables are good for health
Exercise is important to keep you active, but avoid two hours before bed time

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/medicalnews.php?newsid=74096