Residents at U.S. neurosurgery training programs strongly oppose new regulations that further limit their duty hours, according to a survey study in the December issue of Neurosurgery.
The researchers sent a survey to residents enrolled in 101 neurosurgery training programs in the United States and Puerto Rico and received responses from 377 residents. The survey revolved around new standards for medical resident duty hours that were recently approved by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education.
New requirements reduce work shifts of first-year residents to no more than 16 hours a day and set stricter requirements for duty hour exceptions, among other new rules. The rules took effect in July. Key findings from the responses include the following:
• More than one-third (36 percent) of the residents said they had violated the 80-hour limit at least occasionally.
• More than 80 percent of respondents disagreed with regulations limiting first-year residents to 16-hour work shifts. Most believed that hospitals would need to hire additional residents or health aides to perform necessary patient care duties.
• Most of the neurosurgery residents agreed that the restrictions would decrease their surgical and educational experiences.
Mayo Clinic: Limits on Resident Workload Could Hurt Continuity of Care
Medical Education Council Limits First-Year Resident Shifts to 16 Hours
The researchers sent a survey to residents enrolled in 101 neurosurgery training programs in the United States and Puerto Rico and received responses from 377 residents. The survey revolved around new standards for medical resident duty hours that were recently approved by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education.
New requirements reduce work shifts of first-year residents to no more than 16 hours a day and set stricter requirements for duty hour exceptions, among other new rules. The rules took effect in July. Key findings from the responses include the following:
• More than one-third (36 percent) of the residents said they had violated the 80-hour limit at least occasionally.
• More than 80 percent of respondents disagreed with regulations limiting first-year residents to 16-hour work shifts. Most believed that hospitals would need to hire additional residents or health aides to perform necessary patient care duties.
• Most of the neurosurgery residents agreed that the restrictions would decrease their surgical and educational experiences.
Related Articles on ACGME:
ACGME to Continue to Serve as Regulatory Body for Medical ResidentsMayo Clinic: Limits on Resident Workload Could Hurt Continuity of Care
Medical Education Council Limits First-Year Resident Shifts to 16 Hours