Effect of resident call status on ABSITE performance

Background. Long work hours that result in fatigue may adversely affect cog nitive function. Chronically sleep-deprived surgical residents fear that be ing on call the night before sitting for a standardized test puts them at a potential disadvantage. We examined American Board of Surgery In-Training Examination (ABSITE) scores to assess the effect of call status on exam per formance. Methods. Results of the 1994 ABSITE for 424 residents in 15 New England gen eral surgery programs were collected. We compared standard scores of reside nts for the total test, clinical management, and basic science components w ith resident call status (on/off) for the night before the exam. Results. Differences were apparent in total test scores (mean: off 496.1; o n, 466.0; P <.03) and clinical management scores (mean: off 504.3 on, 470.6 ; P <.02) (t test, Mann-Whitney U test), Multivariate analyses revealed tha t differences in postgraduate year level and training track were significan t contributors to differences in scores in all test components (analysis of covariance). Call status was not a significant factor in score variation a fter adjusting for these 2 factors. Conclusions. Differences in ABSITE scores of residents were related to post graduate year level and training track. Call status had no significant effe ct on ABSITE performance.