title: Structured cues or modafinil for fatigue amelioration in clinicians? A double-blind, randomized controlled trial of critical clinical information recall in fatigued clinicians.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the impact of modafinil on "free" and "cued" recall of clinical information in fatigued but nonsleep-deprived clinicians.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Despite attempts to minimize sleep deprivation through redesign of the roster of residents and staff surgeons, evidence suggests that fatigue remains prevalent. The wake-promoting agent modafinil improves cognition in the sleep-deprived fatigued state and may improve information recall in fatigued nonsleep-deprived clinicians.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-four medical undergraduates participated in a double-blind, parallel, randomized controlled trial (modafinil-200 mg:placebo). Medication was allocated 2 hours before a 90-minute fatigue-inducing, continuous performance task (dual 2-back task). A case history memorization task was then performed. Clinical information recall was assessed as "free"(no cognitive aids) and "cued"(using aid memoirs). Open and closed cues represent information of increasing specificity to aid the recall of clinical information. Fatigue was measured objectively using the psychomotor vigilance task at induction, before and after the dual 2-back task.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Modafinil decreased false starts and lapses (modafinil = 0.50, placebo = 9.83, P < .05) and improved psychomotor vigilance task performance (Decreased Performance, modafinil = 0.006, placebo = 0.098, P < .05). Modafinil improved free information recall (modafinil = 137.8, placebo = 106.0, P < .01). There was no significant difference between groups in the amount of information recalled with open (modafinil = 62.3, placebo = 52.8, P = .1) and closed cues (modafinil = 80.1, placebo = 75.9, P = .3).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Modafinil attenuated fatigue and improved free recall of clinical information without improving cue-based recall under the design of our experimental conditions. Memory cues to aid retrieval of clinical information are convenient interventions that could decrease fatigue-related error without adverse effects of the neuropharmacology.
authors.affiliation: Department of BioSurgery and Surgical Technology, St. Mary's Hospital, Paddington, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Ian
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Flindall
authors.affiliation: Department of BioSurgery and Surgical Technology, St. Mary's Hospital, Paddington, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Daniel Richard
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Leff
authors.affiliation: Department of BioSurgery and Surgical Technology, St. Mary's Hospital, Paddington, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Jonathan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Goodship
authors.affiliation: Department of BioSurgery and Surgical Technology, St. Mary's Hospital, Paddington, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Colin
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sugden
authors.affiliation: Department of BioSurgery and Surgical Technology, St. Mary's Hospital, Paddington, United Kingdom. Electronic address: a.darzi@imperial.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Ara
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Darzi
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001559:Benzhydryl Compounds / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003463:Cues; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005221:Fatigue / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006282:Health Personnel / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011939:Mental Recall / Q000187:drug effects*; D000077408:Modafinil; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology; D011597:Psychomotor Performance; D012892:Sleep Deprivation / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology; D013337:Students, Medical / Q000523:psychology; D064690:Wakefulness-Promoting Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014940:Work Schedule Tolerance / Q000523:psychology*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D001559:Benzhydryl Compounds; D064690:Wakefulness-Promoting Agents; D000077408:Modafinil