Impact of reduction in working hours for doctors in training on postgraduate medical education and patients’ outcomes

Impact of reduction in working hours for doctors in training on postgraduate medical education and patients’ outcomes

Article Type: Reviews of effectiveness From: Clinical Governance: An International Journal, Volume 16, Issue 3

Moonesinghe, S.R., Lowery, J., Shahi, N., Millen, A., Beard, J.D.Impact of reduction in working hours for doctors in training on postgraduate medical education and patients’ outcomes: systematic reviewBMJ2011Vol. 342d1580

The authors concluded that there was no clear evidence of benefit or harms on patient outcomes associated with reducing the working hours of doctors in training. The authors’ conclusion reflects the evidence presented but,given that most included studies were non-controlled retrospective cohorts(which are less likely to detect significant results), their conclusion should be interpreted with some caution.