Effect of Melatonin on Sleep Patterns of Resident Trainees During Night Float Shift

Launched by UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA · Jan 18, 2023

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This clinical trial is studying how melatonin, a natural hormone that helps regulate sleep, can improve sleep quality and quantity for resident physicians working night shifts. Anesthesiology residents often have long and overnight shifts, which can disrupt their sleep patterns and make it hard for them to get enough restful sleep. The goal of this study is to see if taking melatonin can help these doctors sleep better during their night float shifts.

To participate, you need to be a resident in your first to fifth year of training in anesthesiology, general surgery, obstetrics and gynecology, general medicine, or pediatrics at the University of Virginia. You won’t be able to join if you currently use sleep aids, have a diagnosed sleep disorder, or have certain medical conditions like high blood pressure or a history of depression. If you take part in the trial, you can expect to be given melatonin or a placebo (a dummy pill) for comparison, and researchers will monitor how your sleep changes. This study is currently recruiting participants, and it aims to help improve the sleep of doctors who work challenging hours.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • Post-Graduate Year 1-5
• • Current enrollment in anesthesiology, general surgery, obstetrics and gynecology, general medicine, or pediatrics residency at the Unversity of Virginia
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • Current use of sleep aids
• • Diagnosed sleep disorder
• • History of a pacemaker or other medical device.
• • pregnant or breast-feeding females
• • Bleeding disorders
• • Depression
• • High blood pressure
• • Seizure disorders
• • History of transplant on immunosuppression therapy.