Evaluation of reasons why surgical residents exceeded 2011 duty hour requirements when offered flexibility.
This secondary analysis of a prior randomized trial of flexible versus mandated duty hours for trainee physicians examined reasons for staying past the end of a 24-hour call. Most trainees reported voluntarily staying longer, though a significant proportion reported that program, attending, or senior resident expectations to stay longer influenced them. Reports of coercion to remain were less common, and the authors urge programs to ensure that trainees are not being coerced to exceed duty hours.