Strategies Resident-Physicians Use to Manage Sleep Loss and Fatigue

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Sleep Medicine
• Physician Well-being

Background:

• Physician training, particularly residency, is associated with significant sleep deprivation and fatigue.
• These conditions can negatively impact resident performance, patient safety, and personal health.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the self-care strategies and countermeasures employed by resident physicians to cope with sleep loss and fatigue.
• To understand the approaches residents use in the absence of formal guidance or evidence-based resources.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative study involving 149 residents from five institutions and six specialties.
• Focus groups were conducted using a semi-structured guide, with transcripts analyzed via grounded theory.
• Participants included both interns and senior residents across various training years.

Main Results:

• Residents employed a range of strategies including chemical, dietary, sleep management, behavioral, and cognitive approaches.
• Residents primarily used a trial-and-error method for strategy development, without consulting literature or experts.
• Many residents continued using strategies known to have negative effects.

Conclusions:

• Resident physicians often lack formal education on managing sleep loss and fatigue.
• There is a critical need for evidence-based self-care education programs for residents.
• Implementing structured support can enhance resident well-being and mitigate risks associated with fatigue.