Highlights
- •Transplant surgery fellows experience frequent sleep deprivation.
- •Biophysiological stress is prevalent among abdominal transplant surgery fellows.
- •Transplant surgery fellows are often non-compliant with policies created to reduce burnout.
Abstract
Background
Transplant surgery fellowship is physically and emotionally demanding. The objective
of this study was to characterize biophysiological stress and sleep patterns among
transplant surgery fellows.
Methods
Participating fellows wore a biophysical monitor over a 28-day period and completed
biweekly surveys. Sleep patterns were dichotomized as normal or sleep deprived, and
heart rate variability (HRV) was used to assess stress.
Results
Seventeen fellows participated. Fellows were frequently sleep deprived (43.9% of nights)
and stress was near universal (87.2% of days). Burnout was reported by 2 fellows (11.8%).
Only 4 fellows (23.5%) reported compliance with the Transplant Accreditation and Certification
Council managed time policy; these fellows experienced fewer days of stress than non-compliant
fellows (79.8% vs 89.2% p = 0.02).
Conclusions
This is the first study to quantify sleep deprivation and stress among transplant
fellows. Future work is needed to evaluate the effects of sleep deprivation, and stress
on burnout and patient outcomes.
Keywords
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Article Info
Publication History
Published online: November 08, 2022
Accepted:
November 4,
2022
Received in revised form:
September 20,
2022
Received:
June 29,
2022
Publication stage
In Press Journal Pre-ProofIdentification
Copyright
© 2022 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
