Pilot Study Sleepiness in physicians on night call duty

Little is known about how physicians' feelings of sleepiness and sleep patterns are affected by night call duties. In the present pilot study, the authors followed a group of staff (hospital) physicians during and following night call duties. They recorded feelings of sleepiness and sleep patterns every third hour. Results show measurable effects on the sleepiness scale with residual effects lasting up to two days after the actual night call duty. The authors suggest that increased attention should now be given to studies of the psychophysiological effects of both present and alternative work schedules for physicians.