Doctors are less likely to prescribe pain medication at the end of a long night shift than they are at the start, a new study reveals – perhaps pointing to a lower level of empathy for patient pain when physicians are themselves feeling worn out.
Researchers behind the study are calling for hospitals to do more to manage the schedule and the workload of health professionals, so that clinical decisions aren't affected by fatigue in these kinds of ways.
Even just making physicians aware of potential bias at the end of their shift could be helpful, the researchers suggest. More robust guidelines for the prescription of pain medication might also be useful in ensuring patients get the treatment they need. "Our takeaway is that night shift work is an important and previously unrecognized source of bias in pain management, likely stemming from impaired perception of pain,""Even medical experts, who strive to provide the best care for their patients, are susceptible to the effects of a night shift."
The study involved 31 resident physicians in Israel who were just starting work, and 36 who were about to finish a 26-hour shift. These participants were given invented scenarios detailing a female patient with a headache and a male patient with backache.Those doctors coming off their shift rated the pain of the patients as less intense, and were less likely to prescribe analgesics to relieve pain, in these hypothetical scenarios.
The study also included an analysis of 13,482 discharge letters for patients in the US and Israel, collected over a period of seven years. Across all the data sets, physicians were 20–30 percent less likely to prescribe pain medication during a night shift.
Norge Siste Nytt, Norge Overskrifter
Similar News:Du kan også lese nyheter som ligner på denne som vi har samlet inn fra andre nyhetskilder.
Steph Curry Reacts to Sabrina Ionescu Hitting Iconic ‘Night Night' CelebrationSteph Curry’s “night night” celebration is catching fire around the basketball world.
Les mer »
Guardians end skid, rally past Twins in day-night DH openerThe Guardians were about to slide further back in the AL Central. Amed Rosario jammed on the brakes.
Les mer »
Night-stalking mountain lion spotted near downtown Denver REI store and other neighborhoods“It probably happens a lot more than we know about. If there wasn’t security camera footage, no one would ever have known about it.”
Les mer »
Babyface Signs With Capitol Records Ahead of New Album ‘Girls’ Night Out’Babyface has signed with capitolrecords ahead of his upcoming album ‘Girls’ Night Out’ — set to include features with Ella Mai, Kehlani and more. 👏
Les mer »
Amazon Picks Charissa Thompson to Host ‘Thursday Night Football’ Ancillary ProgrammingCharissa Thompson, a regular presence at Fox Sports, is broadening her horizons. The sportscaster, known for hosting “Fox NFL Kickoff” on Sundays during the NFL season, will also be wor…
Les mer »
Scrub Hub: Are lightning bugs disappearing from Indiana's night skies?For this edition of the Scrub Hub, we looked at if fireflies are disappearing across Indiana. The answer is yes, hurt by chemicals and light pollution.
Les mer »