Many Surgical Residents Say Current Duty Hour Restrictions Put Safety At Risk

Interestingly, residents who were closer to graduation were those who more strongly felt that the duty hour regulations interfered with their education as compared with residents in their first and second years. Seven percent of junior residents reported that the duty hour regulations did not impede on their education, while 32% of residents in or post their seventh postgraduate year said they felt the regulations interfered with their education.

The researchers concluded that having a "one size fits all" rule for hours may not be the best practice. Instead, finding a schedule that works for individual residents may result in safer patients and better educated surgeons.

Although the hour limitations were put in place to promote patient safety, there has been little evidence published to show that the reduction in hours actually does improve patient safety. Some hospitals are finding it difficult to balance the hour limitations while providing safe care for patients and adequately educating surgeons. However, surgical programs do strive for compliance and have focused more on promoting well rested residents since 2003.