Resident physicians' level of fatigue and medical errors: the role of standardisation. (18th September 2009)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Stern, Zvi; Katz-Navon, Tal; Levtzion-Korach, Osnat; Naveh, Eitan
• Is Part Of: International journal of behavioural and healthcare research. Volume 1:Number 3(2009)
• Page Start: 223
• Page End: 233
• Publication Date: 2009-09-18
• Subjects: resident physicians -- fatigue levels -- work standardisation -- medical errors -- medical treatment -- teaching hospitals -- treatment errors -- medical mistakes; Medical care -- Research -- Periodicals; Social medicine -- Periodicals; Medical care -- Periodicals; 362
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1755-3539

Abstract

The paper examines whether work process standardisation as perceived by resident physicians can reduce their number of medical treatment errors, in particular when their level of fatigue increases. The perceptions of work standardisation and level of fatigue among 126 residents at two teaching hospitals were surveyed. A senior nurse, who had been working closely with each resident, tallied the number of errors made by the resident over a three-month period. The results demonstrated a significant, positive main effect of the residents' level of fatigue, and a significant negative main effect of perceived level of standardisation on the number of residents' errors. In addition, a significant interaction suggested that the number of resident treatment errors increased as the level of fatigue increased, depending on the level of perceived standardisation; when the residents were highly fatigued, they made fewer errors when they perceived that they had more work standardisation.