Fatigue Associated with Three-Fold Increase in Sharps Injuries Among Medical Trainees

A recent report in Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology: The Official Journal of the Society of Hospital Epidemiologists of America showed that medical students were 3 times more likely to stick themselves with a needle if they had slept less and worked more hours before the injury. The study protocol indicated that:

"A group of researchers conducted a study of 350 health care workers at five academic medical centers in the United States and Canada. Of the 350 participants, 109 were medical trainees (all were health care workers). The workers completed interviews while being seen at employee healthcare clinics for needlestick injuries and other injuries related to sharp instruments and devices (sharps injuries); they were asked about work patterns, time at risk for injury, and frequency of fatigue."  (Source:  Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol. 2007 Jan;28(1):10-7. Epub 2006 Dec 28.)

Of course we know this to be true since we also have confirmed that medical errors occur at a significantly higher rate when students, fellows and attendings are sleep deprived. My next question would be:

Has anyone surveyed the patients??  What kind of care are we getting in our hospitals from sleep deprived health care workers?  Never mind the wrong medicines, bad moods, and possible death -- I am talking about real pain here. I wonder how many patients have experienced physical pain based on the carelessness of a sleep deprived healthcare worker.

Now don’t get me wrong, I actually do not think it is their fault. I think that hospital administrations need to be more aware, with better policies allowing those who work shifts to nap, have appropriate time off and limit overtime.