New measuring system to objectively ascertain the level of fatigue in physicians through eye movement

An international team of scientists including researchers from the U. of Granada find that the speed of saccadic movements (rapid eye movements) is an excellent way to objectively measure the level of fatigue in a physician.

Results prove that after a 24-hour medical shift, the speed of saccadic movements diminishes and the subjective perception of fatigue augments. However, the execution of simulated laparoscopic tests is not affected by this type of fatigue.

An international team of scientists which includes researchers from the U. of Granada has demonstrated for the first time that it is possible to establish in an objective way the level of fatigue in physicians after long shifts through their eye movement.

This research reveals that the speed of saccadic movement (mostly voluntary rapid eye movements which we use to focus our gaze upon an object that attracts our attention) is an excellent index to measure objectively the level of fatigue in the medical profession.

Results proved that after long hours, the speed of saccadic movements effectively diminished, while their subjective perception of fatigue increased. However, in the simulated laparoscopic tests after the shift, the execution was not affected in any significant way by their fatigue.

This means that