Association Between Resident Duty Hours and Self-study Time Among Postgraduate Medical Residents in Japan

Abstract
Sufficient self-study time (SST) for postgraduate residents is important for their professional development.1,2 Self-study time has a positive linear association with the acquisition of clinical knowledge.3 In 2024, duty-hour (DH) restrictions will be implemented in Japan for postgraduate residents; therefore, the association of DHs with resident study habits must be evaluated.4 In the US, DH restrictions have had minimal or no association with resident SST.5 The objective of this study was to assess the association between DHs and resident SST using information from the General Medicine In-Training Examination (GM-ITE) survey in Japan.