Clinical Performance in Critical Care Simulation under Sleep Deprivation: Effects of Power Napping in the Recovery Napping Protocol for Anesthesiologist Performance (R-NAP) Randomized Controlled Trial.
AnesthesiologyMay 8, 2026 (epub)
Clinical ResearchAnesthesiology
Laura Schmidt, Florian Genty, Thomas Delaire et al.
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In 30 seconds
This randomized controlled trial evaluated the impact of a 30-minute nap on clinical performance in anesthesia residents after a 24-hour shift. The study found that residents who napped performed 14.8 points better in simulated clinical scenarios compared to controls, indicating a 7.4% improvement in overall performance. The research highlights the potential benefits of napping in managing sleep deprivation among healthcare providers.
Key findings
- Clinical performance improved by 14.8 points after a nap opportunity compared to controls (P = 0.018).
- Nontechnical skills increased by 11.0 points in the nap group (P = 0.016).
- Longer nap duration was associated with better performance, particularly in technical skills (P = 0.010).
Why it matters
Understanding the effects of napping on performance can inform strategies to mitigate the negative impacts of sleep deprivation in healthcare settings, ultimately enhancing patient safety and care quality.