Currently, residents commonly experience dehydration and poor nutrition during nighttime duty hours as a result of heavy work load, lack of time to take nutrition and hydration breaks, or limited or no access to healthy food and drinks which may affect residents' work performance. The goal of this study is to compare the effects of two different meal compositions with no typical dietary practices (existing conditions) on work performance of the on-call residents during night shifts.
The purpose of this study is to determine the effects of dietary modifications on resident physicians' work performance during night shifts. Specific objectives are: 1. To assess the effects of macronutrient composition of the test meals on cognitive performance, self-reported sleepiness and fatigue of resident physicians during night-time duty. 2. To compare to no intervention, the effects of providing meals before 22:00 hours, and only providing chewing gum, tea, coffee and water onwards to on-call residents, on cognitive performance, self-reported sleepiness and fatigue of resident physicians during night-time duty.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
NA
Purpose
OTHER
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
61
Participants will be provided with meals, snacks and drinks with specific macronutrient compositions and encouraged to only eat and drink study meals, snacks and drinks and to avoid eating after 10:00 hours.
Stanford University
Stanford, California, United States
Difference in Motor Praxis scores between conditions
Motor Praxis is a validated neurocognitive test that assesses sensory-motor speed. This test takes approximately 30 seconds to complete and will be measured at two time points (beginning and end of each night shift) in each of the 3 conditions . Differences in accuracy (percentage of correct responses, a higher percentage is better), duration (in milliseconds, lower duration is better), reaction time (in milliseconds, lower reaction time is better) and composite scores (0-1000, higher score is better) will be reported and compared.
Time frame: Two time points (beginning and end of night shifts) on each night for a total of 3 nights
Difference in Fractal 2-Back between conditions
Fractal 2-Back is a validated neurocognitive test that assess working memory. This test takes approximately 2 minutes to complete and will be measured at two time points (beginning and end of each night shift) in each of the 3 conditions. Differences in reaction time (in milliseconds, lower reaction time is better) , accuracy (percentage of correct responses, a higher percentage is better) and composite scores (0-1000, higher score is better) will be reported and compared.
Time frame: Two time points (beginning and end of night shifts) on each night for a total of 3 nights
Difference in Balloon Analog Risk between conditions
Balloon Analog Risk is a validated neurocognitive test that assess risk decision making. This test takes approximately 2 minutes to complete and will be measured at two time points (beginning and end of each night shift) in each of the 3 conditions. Differences in risk propensity (higher scores indicative of greater risk-taking propensity), duration (in milliseconds, lower reaction time is better) and composite scores (0-1000, higher score is better) will be reported and compared.
Time frame: Two time points (beginning and end of night shifts) on each night for a total of 3 nights
Difference in Psychomotor vigilance test between conditions
Psychomotor vigilance test is a validated neurocognitive test that assess vigilant attention. This test takes approximately 3 minutes to complete will be measured at two time points (beginning and end of each night shift) in each of the 3 conditions. Differences in reaction time (in milliseconds, lower reaction time is better), lapses (number, less is better) and composite scores measured (0-1000, higher score is better) will be reported and compared.
Time frame: Two time points (beginning and end of night shifts) on each night for a total of 3 nights
Difference in Degree of sleepiness between conditions
Will use validated Stanford Sleepiness Scale (SSS) developed by William C. Dement, M.D., Ph.D. SSS a self-rating scale used to quantify progressive steps in sleepiness at a certain point in time. It is a seven-point Likert-type scale ranging from "feeling active, vital alert, or wide awake" (score = 1) to "no longer fighting sleep, sleep onset soon and having dream-like thoughts" (score = 7). Selected scores by the participants will be reported each time. This test takes approximately 15 seconds to complete. Differences in degree of sleepiness measured at two time points (beginning and end of each night shift) in each of the 3 conditions will be reported and compared.
Time frame: Two time points (beginning and end of night shifts) on each night for a total of 3 nights
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