The burden of peri-operative work at night as perceived by anaesthesiologists: An international survey
Issued Date
2023-05-01
Resource Type
ISSN
02650215
eISSN
13652346
Scopus ID
2-s2.0-85152168861
Pubmed ID
36651200
Journal Title
European Journal of Anaesthesiology
Volume
40
Issue
5
Start Page
326
End Page
333
Rights Holder(s)
SCOPUS
Bibliographic Citation
European Journal of Anaesthesiology Vol.40 No.5 (2023) , 326-333
Suggested Citation
Cortegiani A., Ippolito M., Lakbar I., Afshari A., Kranke P., Garcia C.S.R., Myatra S.N., Schultz M.J., Giarratano A., Bilotta F., De Robertis E., Noto A., Einav S. The burden of peri-operative work at night as perceived by anaesthesiologists: An international survey. European Journal of Anaesthesiology Vol.40 No.5 (2023) , 326-333. 333. doi:10.1097/EJA.0000000000001791 Retrieved from: https://repository.li.mahidol.ac.th/handle/123456789/82048
Title
The burden of peri-operative work at night as perceived by anaesthesiologists: An international survey
Author's Affiliation
Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Policlinico Paolo Giaccone
Mahidol Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit
Universidad Europea de Valencia
Aix Marseille Université
Universitätsklinikum Würzburg
Sapienza Università di Roma
Tata Memorial Hospital
Università degli Studi di Palermo
Hospital General Universitario de Valencia
Università degli Studi di Messina, Facoltà di Medicina e Chirurgia
Nuffield Department of Medicine
Hebrew University of Jerusalem
Rigshospitalet
Università degli Studi di Perugia
Amsterdam UMC - University of Amsterdam
Mahidol Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit
Universidad Europea de Valencia
Aix Marseille Université
Universitätsklinikum Würzburg
Sapienza Università di Roma
Tata Memorial Hospital
Università degli Studi di Palermo
Hospital General Universitario de Valencia
Università degli Studi di Messina, Facoltà di Medicina e Chirurgia
Nuffield Department of Medicine
Hebrew University of Jerusalem
Rigshospitalet
Università degli Studi di Perugia
Amsterdam UMC - University of Amsterdam
Other Contributor(s)
Abstract
BACKGROUNDNo international data are available on the night working conditions and workload of anaesthesiologists and their opinions about associated risks.OBJECTIVEThe aim of this international survey was to describe the peri-operative night working conditions of anaesthesiologists and their perception of the impact these conditions have on patient outcomes and their own quality of life.DESIGNCross-sectional survey.SETTINGNot applicable.PARTICIPANTSAnaesthesiologists providing peri-operative care during night shifts responded to an online survey promoted by the European Society of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care (ESAIC).INTERVENTIONSNone.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURETwenty-eight closed questions.RESULTSOverall 5292 complete responses were analysed. Of these, 920 were from trainees. The median reported monthly number of night shifts was 4 [IQR 3-6]. An irregular weekly night shift schedule was most common (51%). Almost all the respondents (98%) declared that their centres have no relevant institutional programmes to monitor stress or fatigue. Most respondents (90%) had received no training or information regarding performance improvement methods for night work. Most respondents were of the opinion that sleep deprivation affects their professional performance (71%) and that their fatigue during night work may increase the peri-operative risk for their patients (74%). Furthermore, 81% of the respondents agreed or strongly agreed that night work represents an additional risk per se for patient safety, and 77% stated that their night work affects the quality of their daily life significantly or extremely.CONCLUSIONAnaesthesiologists commonly perform perioperative night work without appropriate training, education or support on this specific condition. They perceive current practice as adversely affecting their professional performance and the safety of their patients. They also report significant effects on their own quality of life. Adequate training and education for night work may ally some of these concerns and programmes to monitor workers' stress and fatigue should be mandated to assess whether these concerns are justified.TRIAL REGISTRATIONNot applicable.