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A 20-min power nap reduces fatigue and daytime sleepiness in emergency doctors following night shifts

In a randomized controlled trial, 54 emergency doctors were assigned to either a 20-min EEG-verified power nap or a control group that stayed awake. The nap group showed a median 3-point reduction in Fatigue Assessment Scale (FAS) and a median 5-point reduction in Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS), while controls showed increases of 4 points on both scales. Between-group differences were significant (P<0.001) with large effect sizes (Cliff's delta = 0.71 for fatigue, 0.78 for sleepiness).

Last updated: Aug 26, 2026•1 RCTs•📖 Read as article →

Evidence Score

Evidence Score44/100
Human RCT★★☆☆☆
Meta-analysis☆☆☆☆☆
Mechanism★★★★★
Safety★★★★☆
Confidencelow

Study Evidence

Study 1. Effect of an electroencephalogram-verified 20-min power nap on fatigue and daytime sleepiness among emergency doctors following night shifts: A randomized controlled trial.

observational

Hussin WNAW, Jaafar MJ, Tan HJ, Isa MHM, Sahibulddin SZ, Khaili NAM, Saiboon IM · Turkish journal of emergency medicine (2026)

Participants: N/A
Duration: Immediate post-intervention assessment (not specified in abstract)
Intervention: A 20-min power nap monitored by electroencephalogram (EEG) after a night shift
Outcome: Fatigue (Fatigue Assessment Scale, FAS) and daytime sleepiness (Epworth Sleepiness Scale, ESS)
Effect Size: Cliff's delta = 0.71 (fatigue), 0.78 (sleepiness)
Population: Emergency doctors following night shifts (n=54, 27 per group)

Result:

PubMed: 42583580DOI: 10.4103/tjem.tjem_293_25

Mechanism Graph

Night shift induces sleep deprivation and increased homeostatic sleep pressure
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A 20-min nap allows for sleep onset and possibly short sleep stages (N1/N2) to occur
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Sleep onset reduces sleep pressure and promotes recovery of alertness
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Result: Reduced fatigue and daytime sleepiness

Limitations

  • ⚠Single-center study with a relatively small sample size (n=54)
  • ⚠No long-term follow-up to assess sustained effects or impact on clinical performance
  • ⚠Control group remained awake, but no sham or alternative intervention was used, which may introduce expectancy effects
  • ⚠EEG monitoring was used to confirm sleep onset, but the study did not report sleep architecture details (e.g., duration of NREM/REM stages)

Frequently Asked Questions

How long did the power nap last?▼

The nap was 20 minutes in duration, monitored by EEG to confirm sleep onset.

What were the main outcomes measured?▼

Fatigue was measured using the Fatigue Assessment Scale (FAS) and daytime sleepiness using the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS).

Did the nap group show significant improvement compared to controls?▼

Yes, the nap group had a median reduction of 3 points on FAS and 5 points on ESS, while controls increased by 4 points on both scales, with large effect sizes (Cliff's delta >0.7).

What percentage of participants achieved sleep onset during the nap?▼

EEG monitoring showed that 81.4% of intervention participants achieved sleep onset within 0-4 minutes.

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References

  1. 1.Hussin WNAW, Jaafar MJ, Tan HJ, Isa MHM, Sahibulddin SZ, Khaili NAM, Saiboon IM. "Effect of an electroencephalogram-verified 20-min power nap on fatigue and daytime sleepiness among emergency doctors following night shifts: A randomized controlled trial.." Turkish journal of emergency medicine, 2026. PMID: 42583580 DOI: 10.4103/tjem.tjem_293_25
Disclaimer: This content is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. Evidence scores reflect the quality and quantity of available research, not clinical recommendations. Always consult a healthcare professional before starting any supplement or intervention.