The perspective of the vascular surgery trainee on new ACGME regulations, fatigue, resident training, and patient safety

Objective: To assess the opinions of vascular surgery trainees on the new Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) guidelines. Methods: A questionnaire was developed and electronically distributed to trainee members of the Society for Vascular Surgery. Results: Of 238 eligible vascular trainees, 38 (16%) participated. Respondents were predominantly 30 to 35 years of age (47%), male (69%), in 2-year fellowship (73%), and at large academic centers (61%). Trainees report occasionally working while fatigued (63%). Fellows were more likely to report for duty while fatigued (P =.012) than integrated vascular residents. Respondents thought further work-hour restrictions would not improve patient care or training (P <.05) and may not lead to more sleep or improved quality of life. Respondents reported that duty hours should vary by specialty (81%) and allow flexibility in the last years of training (P <.05). Conclusions: Vascular surgery trainees are concerned about further duty-hour restrictions on patient care, education, and training and fatigue mitigation has to be balanced against the need to adequately train vascular surgeons.