Emergency medicine residents' use of psychostimulants and sedatives to aid in shift work

• Published in: The American journal of emergency medicine Vol. 29; no. 9; pp. 1034 - 1036.e1
• Main Authors: Shy, Bradley D., MD, Portelli, Ian, PhDc, Msc, CRA, Nelson, Lewis S., MD
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York, NY Elsevier Inc 01.11.2011; Elsevier; Elsevier Limited
• Subjects: Anesthesia. Intensive care medicine. Transfusions. Cell therapy and gene therapy; Biological and medical sciences; Caffeine; Caffeine - therapeutic use; Central Nervous System Stimulants - therapeutic use; Data Collection; Emergency; Emergency and intensive care: techniques, logistics; Emergency medical care; Emergency Medicine - statistics & numerical data; Female; Hospitals; Humans; Hypnotics and Sedatives - therapeutic use; Intensive care medicine; Intensive care unit. Emergency transport systems. Emergency, hospital ward; Internship and Residency - statistics & numerical data; Male; Medical sciences; Physicians; Shift work; Studies; United States; Work Schedule Tolerance; United States; Intensive care; Sedative; Emergency; Resuscitation; Shift work
• ISSN: 0735-6757; 1532-8171
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ajem.2010.06.004

Abstract Objectives We evaluated the frequency that emergency medicine house staff report use of stimulants and sedatives to aid in shift work and circadian transitions. Methods We surveyed residents from 12 regional emergency medicine programs inviting them to complete a voluntary, anonymous electronic questionnaire regarding their use of stimulants and sedatives. Results Out of 485 eligible residents invited to participate in the survey, 226 responded (47% response frequency). The reported use of prescription stimulants for shift work is uncommon (3.1% of respondents.) In contrast, 201 residents (89%) report use of caffeine during night shifts, including 118 residents (52%) who use this substance every night shift. Eighty-six residents (38%) reported using sedative agents to sleep following shift work with the most common agents being anti-histamines (31%), nonbenzodiazepine hypnotics such as zolpidem (14%), melatonin (10%), and benzodiazepines (9%). Conclusion Emergency medicine residents report substantial use of several classes of hypnotics to aid in shift work. Despite anecdotal reports, use of prescription stimulants appears rare, and is notably less common than use of sedatives and non-prescription stimulants.