Abstract
ObjectivesIt is common to find doctors working long and odd hours and many at times without rest and sleep. Despite the evidence of adverse risk, jeopardizing patient safety under the hands of fatigue doctors under such working hours has not changed in many places. It has argued that with such training and subsequent experience, such issues with patient safety reduce. Fatigue too is argued as subjective, as those who can withstand the stress still perform. Nevertheless, undeniably working under fatigue is not safe for both the patient and the doctor. This study is a novel attempt to explore and objectify the state of fatigue using quantitative EEG among post‐call doctors.MethodSeven volunteer post‐call doctors were recruited to go through an EEG recording before and after their on‐call rotation while at rest and subsequently while carrying out Stroop Test, putting their cognitive function at work.ResultsThe doctors have worked up to 33 hours in a row and have had sleep of an average of 1.5 hours. It is found that during task there is a statistically significant increase in theta (frontal and occipital regions) and beta (occipital region) band power while at task post‐call. Alpha band power is increased in the frontal and reduced in other regions. Correlation with Stroop Test results indicated that those who have higher alpha, beta, and lower relative theta powers at the frontal region at post‐call rest have higher percentage of correct congruent trials.ConclusionThe results objectively imply that these fatigue doctors are under more strain while carrying out a task and corresponds to the implicated regions of brain stimulated by the task accordingly.
Highlights
Fatigue in normal people is an experience suffered due to prolonged work without due rest
It is a state of extreme tiredness resulting from mental or physical exertion or illness with reduced muscle efficiency and a decrease in response and enthusiasm over prolonged work.[1]. This condition can disappear with adequate rest. Those with chronic diseases may suffer fatigue as a secondary condition and if it were more than 6 months, it would be diagnosed as Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, otherwise, if of unknown cause a diagnosis of chronic debilitating syndrome would be made.[2]
The Maastricht Cohort Study carried out in 1998 Netherlands claims prolonged fatigue is common among workers at around 21.9% transecting over 12 sectors and work trades.[3]
Summary
Fatigue in normal people is an experience suffered due to prolonged work without due rest. EEG signals are indicated to be very predictive and reliable tool to detect alertness levels[10] and could be used in the prevention of fatigue or as a trigger in counter-measure instruments.[11] At fatigue, there is a decrease in physiological arousal, slowed sensorimotor functions, and impaired information processing, impairing the workers’ ability to respond effectively in emergencies or unusual situations.[12] These changes can be deduced by analyzing the four types of brain waves detected by EEG They are Delta (±0 to 4 Hz), theta (4-8 Hz), alpha (8-13 Hz), and beta (13-20 Hz).[13] Delta waves are more frequent during sleep. Most studies conducted were on motor-vehicle operators under simulated driving or piloting for the development of counter-measure instruments for the prevention of accidents during fatigue
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