Effect of Melatonin on Sleep Patterns of Resident Trainees During Night Float Shift
University of Virginia
Summary
Anesthesiology residency requires extended and overnight shifts, which may negatively impact the quantity and quality of sleep. Previous studies have investigated the effect of night float shift work on anesthesiology resident sleep and performance and demonstrated that total sleep quantity and time spent in deep and rapid eye movement (REM) sleep were significantly reduced during night float and did not return to baseline after 3 nights of recovery. Melatonin is a hormone produced by the pineal gland, which regulates the circadian rhythm that governs sleep. Exogenous melatonin may be used as a sleep aid and is available over the counter in the United States. Melatonin is effective in realigning the circadian rhythm disorder caused by night shift work and increasing sleep duration; however, melatonin's effect on improving sleep in resident trainees has not been investigated. The investigators propose a prospective double-blinded randomized control trial to investigate the effect of melatonin on sleep quantity and quality in resident physicians assigned to a night float system.
Description
Residents in Post-Graduate Years 1-7 enrolled in residency programs with a night float system (anesthesiology, general surgery, obstetrics and gynecology, general medicine, and pediatrics) will be invited to participate in the study. A clinical study coordinator will assist in obtaining informed consent. After informed consent is obtained, participants will be randomized to receive either 3 mg melatonin or a matching placebo control. Medications will be prepared and randomization performed by the University of Virginia Pharmacy. Both participants and study coordinators will be blinded to the t…
Eligibility
- Age range
- 18+ years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Yes
Inclusion Criteria: * Post-Graduate Year 1-5 * Current enrollment in anesthesiology, general surgery, obstetrics and gynecology, general medicine, or pediatrics residency at the Unversity of Virginia Exclusion Criteria: * Current use of sleep aids * Diagnosed sleep disorder * History of a pacemaker or other medical device. * pregnant or breast-feeding females * Bleeding disorders * Depression * High blood pressure * Seizure disorders * History of transplant on immunosuppression therapy.
Interventions
- Dietary SupplementMelatonin
Melatonin
- OtherPlacebo
Placebo control
Location
- University of VirginiaCharlottesville, Virginia