Influence of Shift Duration on Cognitive Performance of Emergency Physicians: A Prospective Cross-Sectional Study.

Study Objective: The relationship between tiredness and medical errors is now commonly accepted. The main objective of this study is to evaluate the cognitive performance of emergency physicians after a night shift of 14 hours (H14) and after a work shift of 24 hours (H24) and to compare it with tests performed after a rest night at home (H0).

Methods: Forty emergency physicians (19 staff physicians and 21 residents) were randomly evaluated at H0, H14, and H24.

Night shift decreases cognitive performance of ICU physicians.

Background: The relationship between tiredness and the risk of medical errors is now commonly accepted. The main objective of this study was to assess the impact of an intensive care unit (ICU) night shift on the cognitive performance of a group of intensivists. The influence of professional experience and the amount of sleep on cognitive performance was also investigated.