Recently published in the Journal of sleep was an editorial commenting on resident physician extended work hours and burnout. In 2003 a cap was applied to the hours of a work week of 80hrs, then in 2009 a second cap was applied to the lengths of shifts residents could work; 16hrs. In July 2017 this second daily shift cap of 16hrs was removed. The authors make a few points to oppose this removal of a 16hr shift maximum:
- 74% of physicians experience burnout in the first 2 years of resident training
- High work demands likely to reduce sleep, and lead to burnout
- Less work hours will lead to higher workloads during the shorter shifts
- Less work hours decreases burnout
- Less work hours and increased workloads does not decrease quality of care
- Less work hours does not decrease the opportunity to learn
- Flexi work hours may help decrease burnout, but it is unclear
- Untreated burnout can lead to substance abuse, depression and higher rate of physician turnover.
Reference:
Andrew W McHill, Charles A Czeisler, Steven A Shea; Resident physician extended work hours and burnout, Sleep, , zsy112, https://doi.org/10.1093/sleep/zsy112
