FairShare evidence summary
Statement on Fatigue
Original source published:
The bottom line
The ASA formally recognizes that infrequent breaks, irregular meals, and prolonged waiting produce performance-impairing fatigue, and states that providers must be able to request relief without fear of discipline. This makes penalty-free break requests a professional standard leaders can be held to, not a courtesy. As a position statement it defines expectations rather than adding new empirical evidence.
What the source found
ASA formal position statement framing infrequent breaks, irregular meals, and prolonged waiting as contributing factors to performance-impairing fatigue; affirms individual anesthesia providers must be able to request relief without fear of disciplinary consequences.
Limitations and applicability
Position statement, not primary research; originally approved October 15, 2014 and last amended October 13, 2021.
Population and setting
Anesthesia providers (US)
Used in FairShare guides
About this evidence
Research question / practical issue
How does this source inform Break Relief, Fatigue, and Safe Handoffs for the population it studied?
Study design, evidence tier, and source class
Society Position Statement · guidance source · evidence tier 1
Source type: Society Position Statement · guidance · Evidence tier 1
Topics: Break Relief, Fatigue, and Safe Handoffs
Audience: Anesthesiologists, CRNAs