Chronobiology international
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Fatigue risk associated with work schedules of hospital doctors is coming under increasing scrutiny, with much of the research and regulatory focus on trainees. However, provision of 24 h services involves both trainees and specialists, who have different but interdependent work patterns. This study examined work patterns, sleep (actigraphy, diaries) and performance (psychomotor vigilance task pre- and post-duty) of 28 anaesthesia trainees and 20 specialists across a two-week work cycle in two urban public hospitals. ⋯ For both trainees and specialists, robust circadian variation in PVT performance was evident in this complex work setting, despite the potential confounds of variable shift durations and workloads. The relationship between PVT performance of an individual and the safe administration of anaesthesia in the operating theater is unknown. Nevertheless, the findings reinforce that any schedule changes to reduce work-related fatigue need to consider circadian performance variation and the potential transfer of workload and fatigue risk between trainees and specialists.