Shorter shifts for medical residents don't appear to be making any big improvements in doctors' fatigue levels or in patient care, new research shows. The study found that although doctors weren't less tired during their shortest shifts, an adverse patient event was more likely to occur during a short shift. The results "question the rationale for shortening the exposure of the residents to the patients," said study leader Dr. Christopher Parshuram, an associate professor of pediatrics, critical care and health policy management and evaluation at the University of Toronto.
