Cognitive Performance After a Night Shift in Internal Medicine Residents

Evaluation on the Effect on Cognition and Emotional Exhaustion With a Change of Long Night Shift System Versus Reduced Night Shift in Residents of Internal Medicine

A quasi-experimental design where internal medicine residents in a high complexity hospital were assessed after a 24-hour shift for cognitive impairment by a trained neurologist.

The investigators conducted a cross sectional study during the 2014-2016 period in a high complexity school hospital in Buenos Aires. Second and third year Internal Medicine residents who consented to participate were included.

A neurologist conducted a cognitive evaluation to the residents who had done 24 hours shifts (with sleep deprivation) within 6 hours of its end.

Auditory memory deficit was evaluated (PASAT - Paced Auditory Serial Addition Test), verbal fluency (FAS), direct and indirect Digit-Span, Rey auditory verbal learning test (RAVLT) and Continuous Performance Test 2 (CPT2).

Results were presented as means of standardized scores (z score) with their interquartile range (IQR).

Inclusion Criteria:

• Internal Medicine residents on the second or third year of formation.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Denial to participate in the study or to the informed consent.