Trends in Strategic Napping in Surgical Residents by Gender, Postgraduate Year, Work Schedule, and Clinical Rotation

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Sleep Science
• Surgical Training

Background:

• Surgical residents often face demanding schedules leading to sleep deprivation.
• Understanding factors influencing on-shift napping is crucial for resident well-being and patient safety.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify surgical resident and clinical rotation attributes predicting on-shift napping.
• To analyze objectively measured sleep patterns and work schedules over a 2-month period.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional study involving 22 surgical residents over 8 weeks.
• Utilized sleep-tracking devices and the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS).
• Multiple linear regression analyzed napping predictors from resident/rotation characteristics.

Main Results:

• Residents slept an average of 6 hours/24 hours with normal sleep efficiency.
• 95% of residents napped on-shift, averaging 32% of workdays.
• Night shifts, longer shifts (>24 hours), and earlier start times were associated with on-shift napping.

Conclusions:

• Surgical residents utilize on-shift napping opportunities, particularly during night work.
• Insufficient sleep and daytime sleepiness persist, potentially impacting performance and safety.
• Findings can inform fatigue management interventions for surgical residents.