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Document ID (ISN)61572
CIS number 94-384
ISSN - Serial title 0096-1736 - Journal of Occupational Medicine
Year 1992
Convention or series no.
Author(s) Leung L., Becker C.E.
Title Sleep deprivation and house staff performance - Update 1984-1991
Bibliographic information Dec. 1992, Vol.34, No.12, p.1153-1163. 22 + 56 ref.
Abstract All English-language studies since 1984 of sleep deprivation and house staff performance are reviewed. Manual and computer surveys identified 14 such studies. The goal of the review is to examine whether the current literature supports the hypothesis that sleep deprivation significantly impairs house staff performance. It is found that the current data remain inconclusive. The causes for this uncertainty include different methodologies in assessing performance, the arbitrary definitions of sleep-deprived and rested states, and lack of separation of the effects of acute and chronic sleep deprivation. The review notes striking difference in reported effects of sleep deprivation depending on medical specialty. Surgical studies most frequently show little effect of sleep deprivation. All studies since 1990 support the hypothesis that sleep deprivation significantly impairs performance. Most studies support the impairment of physician mood with increasing sleep deprivation. An editorial House staff = Shift workers by Scott A.J. compares the problems of house staff with those of shift workers in general.
Descriptors (primary) shift work; health care personnel; sleep deprivation; work capacity
Descriptors (secondary) hours of work; literature survey
Document type D - Periodical articles
Country / State or ProvinceUSA
Subject(s) Occupational physiology
Broad subject area(s) Physiology, ergonomics
Browse category(ies) Health care services
Fatigue