title: Safer hours for doctors and improved safety for patients.
abstract: An increasing weight of evidence is demonstrating that sleep deprivation and circadian rhythm disruption in doctors are associated with human error and harm to both patients and doctors. The increasing junior doctor workforce entering the hospital system in Australia provides a rare opportunity for workplace and roster reforms. There are cultural, educational and industrial challenges to reforming working hours. Any changes should be evidence-based and monitored to ensure that training for junior doctors and patient care are not compromised.
authors.affiliation: Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia. dev.kevat@monash.edu.
authors.forename: Dev A S
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Kevat
authors.affiliation: Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
authors.forename: Peter A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Cameron
authors.affiliation: Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
authors.forename: Andrew R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Davies
authors.affiliation: Harvard University, Boston, Mass, USA.
authors.forename: Chris P
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: Landrigan
authors.affiliation: Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
authors.forename: Shantha W
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Rajaratnam
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001315:Australia; D002940:Circadian Rhythm; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D006801:Humans; D008505:Medical Staff, Hospital / Q000523:psychology; D015201:Meta-Analysis as Topic; D061214:Patient Safety; D012892:Sleep Deprivation / Q000523:psychology; D014940:Work Schedule Tolerance / Q000523:psychology