Neurobehavioral Effects of the On-Call Experience in Housestaff Physicians

Sixty-tree medical residents were tested on a battery of computer-based, self-administered neurobehavioral tests before and after a 36-hour in-hospital call plus postcall day to assess the central nervous system effects of the call experience and its accompanying sleep deprivation. Statistically significant decreases in performance were found postcall on tests of sustained visual attention (P less than 0.0001), speed and coding ability (P less than 0.0001) and short-term recall (P less than 0.0001). Hand-eye coordination improved (P less than 0.02).