Mixed
Eliminating extended work shifts (capping shifts at 16 hours) significantly increases sleep duration and reduces attentional failures in medical interns compared to traditional schedules with extended shifts.
For medical trainees and healthcare administrators: Structuring work shifts to cap continuous duty at 16 hours, rather than allowing 24+ hour shifts, significantly improves sleep and reduces errors. This is achieved not just by reducing total weekly hours, but by preventing the physiological toll of extended wakefulness. Implementing this schedule, potentially with encouraged napping, is a high-impact intervention for safety.
Eliminating interns’ extended work shifts in an intensive care unit significantly increased sleep and decreased attentional failures during night work hours.
Why this rating
High-quality within-subjects design with objective polysomnography and electrooculography validation, though limited to a single hospital setting.
Source
Effect of Reducing Interns' Weekly Work Hours on Sleep and Attentional Failures
Steven W. Lockley et al. · New England Journal of Medicine · 2004
DOI 10.1056/nejmoa041404
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