Table 1

Characteristics of case and control shifts

Case shifts (N=41)Control shifts (N=92)
Age of nurse (SD)40.95 (8.69)40.35 (5.82)
Mean no of shifts 72 h antecedent to index shift1.291.07
No (%) who worked 0, 1, 2, 3 in previous 72 h
0 shifts9 (22.0%)31 (33.7%)
1 shift15 (36.6)33 (35.9)
2 shifts13 (31.7)19 (20.7)
3 shifts4 (9.76)9 (9.78)
No (%) who had ≥2 years intensive care unit experience27 (66%)51 (55%)
No (%) of shifts with 1:1 nurse:patient ratio40 (98%)90 (98%)