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

Anesthesiology residency requires extended and overnight shifts, which may negatively impact the quantity and quality of sleep.Previous studies have investigated the effect of night float shift work on anesthesiology resident sleep and performance and demonstrated that total sleep quantity and time spent in deep and REM sleep were significantly reduced during night float and did not return to baseline after 3 nights of recovery.Melatonin is a hormone produced by the pineal gland, which regulates the circadian rhythm that governs sleep. Exogenous melatonin may be used as a sleep aid and is available over the counter in the United States. Melatonin is effective in realigning the circadian rhythm disorder caused by night shift work and increasing sleep duration; however, melatonin's effect on improving sleep in resident trainees has not been investigated. The investigators propose a prospective double-blinded randomized control trial to investigate the effect of melatonin on sleep quantity and quality in resident physicians assigned to a night float system.

Inclusion Criteria:Post-Graduate Year 1-5Current enrollment in anesthesiology, general surgery, obstetrics and gynecology, general medicine, or pediatrics residency at the Unversity of VirginiaExclusion Criteria:Current use of sleep aidsDiagnosed sleep disorderHistory of a pacemaker or other medical device.pregnant or breast-feeding femalesBleeding disordersDepressionHigh blood pressureSeizure disordersHistory of transplant on immunosuppression therapy.