TY - JOUR PY - 2016// TI - Effects of partial sleep deprivation on reaction time in anesthesiologists JO - Paediatric anaesthesia A1 - Saadat, Haleh A1 - Bissonnette, Bruno A1 - Tumin, Dmitry A1 - Raman, Vidya A1 - Rice, Julie A1 - Barry, N'Diris A1 - Tobias, Joseph SP - 358 EP - 362 VL - 27 IS - 4 N2 - BACKGROUND: Fatigue in anesthesiologists may have implications that extend beyond individual well-being.

AIM: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the impact of sleep deprivation on the reaction time in anesthesiologists either after an overnight call or regular working hours. Moderation of this effect by coping strategies was observed.

METHODS: Psychomotor vigilance test was used to assess reaction time in 23 anesthesiologists at two time-points: (i) on a regular non-call day and (ii) after a 17-h in-house call. Student's paired t-test was used to compare Psychomotor Vigilance Task data at these two moments. Change score regression was performed to determine the association between coping strategies, assessed using the Coping Strategy Indicator instrument, and decline in reaction time after night call.

RESULTS: Twenty-one colleagues completed the psychomotor vigilance test measurements after two decided to end their participation for personal reasons. Post-call psychomotor vigilance test mean reaction time decreased by an average of 31.2 ms (95% CI: 0.5, 61.9; P = 0.047) when compared to regular day. Reliance on specific coping mechanisms, indicated by Coping Strategy Indicator scale scores, included problem-solving (28 ± 4), followed by seeking social support (23 ± 5) and avoidance (19 ± 4). The change score regression model (r(2) = 0.48) found that greater reliance on avoidance was associated with greater increase in reaction time after night call.

CONCLUSION: Reaction time increased considerably in anesthesiologists after a night call duty. Greater subjective reliance on avoidance as a coping strategy was associated with greater deterioration in performance.

© 2016 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Language: en

LA - en SN - 1155-5645 UR - http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/pan.13035 ID - ref1 ER -