Requisite Work Day Rest Periods for Anesthesia Providers working 24-hour shifts: A Quantitative Pilot Study

The purpose of this study was to measure fatigue scores for anesthesia providers working twenty-four-hour shifts. This study took place at two hospitals within The Henry Ford Health System. The experimental group, that will be referred to as Group 1, from Henry Ford Wyandotte Hospital was composed of five Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNA) that work twenty-four-hour shifts on a regular basis. They were allotted a work place free rest period from 1300-1530 during their shift. The control group, that will be referred to as Group 2, from Henry Ford Macomb Hospital was composed of five CRNAs that work twenty-four-hour shifts on a regular basis. They did not alter their practice. The CRNAs were provided a Readiband TM by Fatigue Science, Vancouver, BC. The ten CRNAs that participated, were asked to wear the data collection device for twelve consecutive days. The Readiband TM measured the provider’s activity, sleep depth, sleep interruptions and sleep effectiveness. The demographic data collected from each provider was age, number of years as a CRNA and their work schedule throughout the twelve days of data collection. Fatigue in health care has been studied by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME), regarding the safety of resident work hours. Studies involving anesthesia providers and fatigue have been done using subjective data collection tools. The Readiband TM provides an objective measure for data collection. Fatigue scores in Group 2, the group without the intervention, were lower, they averaged 86.64 during twenty-four-hour shifts. Fatigue scores in Group 1, the group that was allowed a rest period, averaged 89.07 during twenty-four-hour shifts. The higher score in Group 1 did not show a statistically significant difference. However, the scores in this sample supported the research question. The group having the intervention had higher fatigue scores, meaning they were less tired, overall. The average fatigue scores showed no statistical significance between providers when working twenty-four-hour shifts and not working twenty-four-hour shifts. All scores fell within the range considered unimpaired (80-100). As a secondary finding this sample demonstrated that anesthesia providers remain within a safe fatigue level to provide care while working twenty-four-hour shifts.Doctor of Anesthesia PracticeAnesthesia ProgramUniversity of Michigan-Flinthttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/143445/1/Havenstein2017.pd