Work hours reform: perceptions and desires of contemporary surgical residents.
Level 4 - case-series / case-control
Cross-sectional survey without a control group
PubMed 14522334 · doi:10.1016/S1072-7515(03)00602-1
What was done
A regional survey was conducted among general surgery residents enrolled in training programs across New England to evaluate weekly work hours and attitudes toward the impending July 2003 ACGME duty hour reform.
What was found
Respondents reported working a mean of 105 +/- 0.7 hours per week. Negative effects of sleep deprivation on work were reported by 81% of respondents. A strong majority believed work hours reform would improve quality of life, but less than one half expected a positive impact on patient care. A significantly greater percentage of senior residents than junior residents (p < 0.05) held negative perceptions of work hour limitations, particularly regarding patient care. Residents with previous experience under work hour restrictions were less positive about them than those without such experience.
Why it matters
This study documents resident sentiment on the eve of nationwide duty hour limits, highlighting trainee concern that work hour restrictions could compromise patient care despite anticipated quality-of-life benefits.
Limits
The abstract does not state the sample size (n) or response rate. The study relies entirely on self-reported survey responses from a single geographic region and does not measure objective patient outcomes or actual hours worked.
Cited by
- context Medical residency work hours in the United States were historically reduced from up to 120 hours per week to an 80-hour weekly cap.