Sleep deprivation among doctors mirror many of the hallmark features of burnout, with overlapping consequences such as irritability, fatigue, impaired concentration, mood disturbances, and excessive sleepiness. Despite the recommended 8 hours of rest, physicians on average achieve only about 6.5 hours of nightly sleep, often attributing this deficit to demanding work schedules. In a national survey by the American College of Chest Physicians Sleep Institute, nearly half of physicians reported that their schedules prevented them from getting restorative sleep, with many attempting to "catch up" on weekends or off-days yet still falling short.
This chronic deficit extends beyond professional performance, with one in five physicians reporting missed family or leisure time due to sleep-related issues, compounded further by circadian rhythm misalignments (“early birds” vs. “night owls”)…
