National Cluster-Randomized Trial of Duty-Hour Flexibility in Surgical Training

Abstract

(Abstracted from N Engl J Med 2016;374:713–727) There have been long-standing concerns over possible fatigue-related errors in clinical care delivered by residents working long hours. Such concerns about patient safety and resident well-being led the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) to introduce national regulations in 2003 limiting resident duty periods to 80 hours per week, mandating minimum time off between shifts, and capping overnight shift lengths.