A 20-year study following doctors from their postgraduate year onwards highlighted that most professionals have made a mistake due to tiredness , which caused distress to , or even the death of , a patient [ 9 ] . Procedural error is elevated in sleep-deprived individuals , and diminished sleep reduces the ability to concentrate , slows reaction time , and limits the ability to remember and learn new facts – all of which are essential for medical professionals [ 10 , 27 ] . Although there was no change to surgeons ' cognitive function after a night shift with a rest day before , significant changes were noted after a 24-hour shift [ 8 , 9 ] . Similarly , 32 % of human healthcare nurses were recognised to make more mathematical errors when working night shifts ( p < 0.001 ) and scored significantly lower in other cognitive performance tests [ 10 ] .
Staff shortages are an ongoing problem in the veterinary profession and may be a contributing factor to fatigue , but these findings show that staff shortages should not distract from the issue of on-call working as a causative factor of lower cognitive function due to fatigue , and this should be considered alongside other factors .
In the veterinary profession , which is recognised as an already stressful occupation , traditional on-call / sleeping night shifts have been shown to negatively affect wellbeing , job satisfaction and personal relationships [ 29 ] . A study of veterinary residents and interns in the USA found that a majority felt that fatigue was negatively affecting their clinical skills and ability to empathise [ 28 ] .
Data from RCVS disciplinary hearings between April 2017 and April 2020 reveal that 34.5 % of disciplinary actions were caused in part or wholly by stress , over-work or mental health problems – all factors that have been linked to fatigue and night-shift working [ 30 , 31 ] . For some , working night shifts has benefits , such as allowing more family time , the removal of routine consults , or engaging in emergency and critical care , and these benefits may outweigh the personal risks of fatigue . More research is required to determine the effect on patient safety , especially in the veterinary profession , where little evidence currently exists [ 32 , 33 ] .
Battery testing is defined as the administration of multiple measures that cover a wide range of cognitive abilities to fully characterise an individual ' s neuropsychological strengths and weaknesses [ 34 , 35 ] . This approach allows researchers to use multiple tests to assess a variety of neuropsychological functions – which may include executive function , memory and visuospatial skills , among others – providing a structural approach to assessing cognitive functions [ 34 – 36 ] .
The aim of this research was to test for changes in cognitive function measures and fine motor skills of veterinary professionals in small animal practice within the UK , in relation to the number of hours awake overnight during OOH work featuring sleeping night shifts . We hoped to begin to understand the effects of fatigue and the potential risks both to patients and to the individual performing this style of OOH work .
32 Veterinary Nursing Journal