Resident Duty Hours and Resident and Patient Outcomes: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Division

West Florida

Hospital

Citrus Memorial Hospital

Document Type

Manuscript

Publication Date

10-1-2022

Keywords

graduate medical education, internship and residency, quality of health care

Disciplines

Internal Medicine | Medical Education

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: The policies regarding resident physician work hours are constantly being evaluated and changed. However, the results of randomized control trials (RCTs) is mixed. This systematic review of RCTs aims to synthesize the evidence associated with resident duty hour restrictions, and its impact on resident- and patient-based outcomes.

METHODS: A comprehensive search of the Cochrane Library, EMBASE, and PubMed was conducted from inception until July 31, 2020. Any RCT evaluating the impact of longer resident physician work hours compared to shorter resident physician work hours on resident and patient-based outcomes was eligible for inclusion. Two reviewers extracted data independently. The primary outcome was the impact of resident duty hour restrictions on emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and personal accomplishment, as defined by the Maslach Burnout Inventory. The secondary patient-related outcomes were patient hospital length of stay, serious medical errors, and preventable adverse events. Data were pooled using a random-effects model.

RESULTS: Of the 873 references, nine RCTs met the inclusion criteria. A shorter shift length compared with longer shift length was associated with significantly less emotional exhaustion (SMD = -0.11, 95% CI =-0.21, -0.00) and less dissatisfaction with overall well-being (OR = 0.61, 95% CI 0.38, 0.99) but not with hospital length of stay (SMD= 0.01, 95% CI -0.02, 0.05) and serious medical errors per 1,000 patient hours (OR= 0.76, 95% CI 0.29, 2.0).

CONCLUSIONS: Shorter resident duty hours is possibly associated with improvement in resident-based outcomes, specifically, emotional exhaustion, dissatisfaction with overall well-being, sleep duration, and sleepiness. These findings may inform the policy change in support of reduced shift hours resulting in overall well-being for the residents with possible reduction in burnout without adverse impact on patient-based outcomes.

Publisher or Conference

Medical Education

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