title: Medical student perception of night call in a night float system.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Because of work hour regulations, many surgical residency programs have moved to a night float system. Previously, our medical students took call for 24 hours, whereas currently they also follow a night float system. This study looked at their evaluations of these 2 systems.
  
  
  METHODS
  Students were anonymously surveyed to evaluate the rotation (on a 5-point scale) as well as various components including night call. Responses from each group were compared.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were 104 students included: 46 in the traditional 24-hour call group and 58 in the night float group. Students rated night call significantly higher in the night float system (4.62 ± .64 vs 3.52 ± 1.00, P < .001). There was no difference in the other components or the overall evaluation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  After switching to a night float system, students had a much more positive perception of their night call experience. We believe more clerkships should switch to a night float system.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Bronx-Lebanon Hospital Center, Bronx, NY 10547, USA. dfarkas@bronxleb.org
authors.forename: Daniel T
authors.initials: DT
authors.lastname: Farkas
authors.forename: Ajay K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Shah
authors.forename: John M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Cosgrove
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002982:Clinical Clerkship / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data / Q000639:trends; D005260:Female; D013502:General Surgery / Q000193:education*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009518:New York; D009551:Night Care; D010561:Personnel Staffing and Scheduling / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000458:organization & administration*; D012938:Social Perception; D013337:Students, Medical / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D013503:Surgery Department, Hospital / Q000458:organization & administration; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States; D014940:Work Schedule Tolerance / Q000523:psychology; D000078329:Workforce; D016526:Workload / Q000523:psychology