The effect of fatigue on resident performance.
Fourteen rested and fatigued residents read a set of 25 test radiographs on two separate occasions approximately one month apart. The radiographs were made with partial chest phantom using pulmonary nodules as test objects. Seven rested and 7 fatigued residents read the radiographs, and a month later the order of fatigue was reversed. Fatigued residents had worked a minimum of 15 consecutive hours before their interpretations. Performance did not deteriorate with fatigue, and the nodule detection rate was almost identical on both occasions.
The effect of fatigue on resident performance. Fourteen rested and fatigued residents read a set of 25 test radiographs on two separate occasions approximately one month apart. The radiographs were made with partial chest phantom using pulmonary nodules as test objects. Seven rested and 7 fatigued residents read the radiographs, and a month later the order of fatigue was reversed. Fatigued residents had worked a minimum of 15 consecutive hours before their interpretations. Performance did not deteriorate with fatigue, and the nodule detection rate was almost identical on both occasions.