MJA
MJA

Safer hours for doctors and improved safety for patients

Dev A S Kevat, Peter A Cameron, Andrew R Davies, Chris P Landrigan and Shantha W Rajaratnam
Med J Aust 2014; 200 (7): . || doi: 10.5694/mja13.10412
Published online: 21 April 2014

Abstract

  • An increasing weight of evidence is demonstrating that sleep deprivation and circadian rhythm disruption in doctors are associated with human error and harm to both patients and doctors.

  • The increasing junior doctor workforce entering the hospital system in Australia provides a rare opportunity for workplace and roster reforms.

  • There are cultural, educational and industrial challenges to reforming working hours.

  • Any changes should be evidence-based and monitored to ensure that training for junior doctors and patient care are not compromised.

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