Introduction:

Medical Internal Residents perform 17-hour shifts at Spanish hospitals. Such night work causes an alteration of the circadian rhythm that can trigger disturbances in the physical and emotional state.

Objectives:

To know the degree of physical and emotional affectation that the night shifts generate in Medical Residents and the factors that affect this relationship.

Material and methods:

Before and after their 17-hour shift, the randomized participants from a tertiary referral hospital complete a questionnaire with socio-demographic variables and tests validated in their Spanish version: Positive and Negative Affect Schedule, Swedish Occupational Fatigue Inventory and the subscale of hierarchical support of KARASEK

Results:

Statistical analysis of n = 150 residents of a hospital was carried out. Among the residents who drive after the 17-hour shift, 17.98% suffered a commuting accident. The pleasant experiences were reduced after shifts in a statistically significant difference (p <0.05), compared to the discomforting ones. The highest degree of fatigue after shifts is focused on drowsiness, and to a lesser degree, on a lack of motivation.

Conclusions:

This study supposes a validated estimate of the effects of the continuous work shift of Medical Residents. The results obtained could suggest reconsidering the organization of work given the negative effects for the well-being of future physicians.