Objective. Sleep deprivation decreases work performance and predisposes workers to deleterious health outcomes. We sought to\nevaluate sleep hygiene and fatigue among emergency physicians. Methods. In Marchââ?¬â??June 2016, physicians and residents at an\nacademic emergency medicine program were invited to complete a survey evaluating sleep and alertness. Results. Six attending\nphysicians and 26 residents completed the survey. Among six personal priorities, sleep ranked fourth behind family, work, and\nleisure. 75% stated poor sleep impedes effectiveness as a physician while 53% noted difficulty falling asleep before a night shift.\nIn the last three months, 39% of subjects forgot driving home from a shift, and 34% had fallen asleep while driving. 34% used\nmedications to assist with sleep (including melatonin (36%), alcohol (27%), and prescription drugs (9%)). Most providers attested\nto phone (88%) and television exposure (69%) immediately prior to goal sleep onset. Conclusion. Despite sleep being identified\nas a priority among EM physicians, deleterious habits remain. Poor sleep affects perceived effectiveness and personal safety, as\nevidenced by a significant portion of providers falling asleep on the commute home. Night shift is the chief obstacle to optimal\nsleep hygiene.
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