Hospitalwide adverse drug events before and after limiting weekly work hours of medical residents to 80.
This study examined the impact of mandated work hour limitations on the incidence of adverse drug events (ADEs). Investigators compared findings from an analysis of a voluntary ADE reporting database both before and after the implementation of new work hour restrictions. Results suggested no significant difference in the number of ADEs or the number of preventable ADEs. The authors conclude that regulatory changes in resident work hours did not affect ADE rates but noted study design limitations should caution interpretation.