Incidence of, and risk factors for nodding off at scientific sessions

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Incidence of and risk factors for nodding off at scientific sessions

Kenneth Rockwood, David B. Hogan, Christopher J. Patterson; for the Nodding at Presentations (NAP) Investigators

Abstract

We conducted a surreptitious, prospective, cohort study to ex- plore how often physicians nod off during scientific meetings and to examine risk factors for nodding off. After counting the number of heads falling forward during 2 days of lectures, we calculated the incidence density curves for nodding-off episodes per lecture (NOELs) and assessed risk factors using logistic regression analy- sis. In this article we report our eye-opening results and suggest ways speakers can try to avoid losing their audience.

Despite their known inefficiency, lectures (“a means of transferring notes from the pages of the speaker to the pages of the audience, with- out going through the mind of either”) con- tinue to predominate as a means of helping

physicians learn their trade. At a recent 2-day lecture series, we noticed that many of the attendees around us were nod- ding off, including one of our coauthors (C.J.P.). After awakening him, we decided to study the boredom itself by measuring how often physicians nodded off during the lec- tures and assessing risk factors for this behaviour.

Methods

Since we were sitting together at the back of the room, we counted the number of heads falling forward as a sign of nodding off. We chose this method because counting is scientific. We carefully recorded data on what we thought seemed like reason- able risk factors; anything we were unsure of we made up. In as much as a single episode of nodding off indicates submaximal at- tention, we calculated incidence density curves. To be fair to the speakers (after all, we are Canadians), we counted only 1 nod- ding-off episode per listener-colleague per lecture. For the logis- tic regression analysis we dichotomized nodding-off events as oc- curring at a frequency above the median or, at or below, the median or less. Because this was an exploratory study, we also ad- ministered a short questionnaire (Appendix 1) to colleagues who had nodded off.

Results

About 120 people attended the 2-day lecture series. We had to adjust our analysis because many had left by the end of the second day. The quality of the lectures varied from entertaining and informative, to monotonous and repeti-

tive, to rushed, to Felliniesque. The incidence density curve ranged from 3 nod-off episodes per lecture (NOELs) to 24 NOELs per 100 attendees (median 16 NOELs per 100) (Fig. 1). Risk factors for NOELs are presented in Table 1.

Interviews with colleagues who nodded off revealed that they were comforted to know they were not alone. Most had no enthusiasm to attend boring lectures but were in- clined to go if influenced by payment, CME credits, guilt or obsessiveness. Being internists, all but 1 were relieved to discover that their falling asleep was not their fault but that of the speakers.

Interpretation

We observed that clinically important proportions of physicians nodded off during the lectures, that there ap- peared to be a dose–response effect and that speaker char- acteristics were the strongest risk factors.

Our study had important limitations. Because we sat at the back of the room, we could not see everyone’s faces. Thus, people who can sleep without head movement would have been missed. However, since we were count- ing physicians who were “nodding off” and not “sleeping,” we were pretty much covered there. Misclassification bias was another possibility, especially since the rapid flashing of slides could have induced absence seizures that may

DOI:10.1503/cmaj.1041570

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Table 1: Risk factors for nodding off at lectures

Factor

Environmental

Dim lighting
Warm room temperature Comfortable seating
Audiovisual
Poor slides
Failure to speak into microphone Circadian
Early morning
Post prandial
Speaker-related
Monotonous tone
Tweed jacket
Losing place in lecture

Note: CI = confidence interval.

Odds ratio (and 95% CI)

1.6 (0.8–2.5) 1.4 (0.9–1.6) 1.0 (0.7–1.3)

1.8 (1.3–2.0) 1.7 (1.3–2.1)

1.3 (0.9–1.8) 1.7 (0.9–2.3)

6.8 (5.4–8.0) 2.1 (1.7–3.0) 2.0 (1.5–2.6)

5 0

Z Z

Z
Z

0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 Duration of lecture, min

Fig. 1: Special incidence density curve, showing number of nod- ding-off events per lecture (NOELs) per 100 attendees over length of time of presentation.

have been mistaken for nodding-off events. Another limi- tation was one of undercounting, especially during lectures by the more boring speakers. Such speakers can induce inattention (and its common correlate, fantasy) to the ex- tent that it becomes impossible to concentrate on the task of counting nodding heads. However, as far as we can tell, at least 2 of us were attentive at any given time, so we doubt that undercounting was a factor. Perhaps this is fan- tasy, though. Overcounting may have occurred if some of the NOELs were actually vigorous noddings in agreement (NIAs). However, experienced observers such as ourselves can readily distinguish between NOELs and NIAs by a va- riety of associated factors, including timing, amplitude, frequency, and presence of snoring, drooling and gasping. Narcolepsy, however, must remain in the differential diag- nosis of NOELs.

Our study was not precisely double-blinded, since we could not find a valid way of unobtrusively counting people with our eyes closed. The frequent nodding off of one of us (C.J.P.) is a form of blindness, and, as is often the case, our colleagues had no idea of what we were up to. Therefore, we claim a one-and-a-half-blinded design. (This study de- sign has received scandalously little formal attention from methodologists, something that one of us [C.J.P.], being lo- cated at McMaster University, hopes to put right, if he can stay awake.)

We were interested to observe that some intrinsically boring talks (those with obscure topics, few data, absent analyses) had unexpectedly low NOEL rates. We attributed this to the bizarreness of the presentation. Factors such as wandering off to inspect the screen, dropping the micro- phone or just raving — although disconcerting to the audi- ence — helped to keep the physicians awake, as did side bets

among attendees on when the speaker’s prefatory comments would end and the actual topic of the lecture addressed.

We were surprised to see the relation between tweed and NOELs. Further analysis shows that it is tweed, not plaid, that is implicated. Tweed is often worn by fops, but many otherwise admirable men wear tweed from time to time without apparent adverse effects. Chronic tweed wearing, however, might indicate a boring phenotype, or it might be causal: tweed may harbour little insect-like crea- tures whose dander could cause asthma and chronic hypox- emia, with subsequent cerebral dysfunction. Without ap- propriate clinicopathological correlation it is impossible to say. Thus, we have resolved, in the interests of science, to sacrifice a few boring speakers and study their brains, pend- ing ethical approval.

The questionnaire administered to the nodders-off was revealing. Most were reassured to know that it wasn’t their fault. One participant, however, insisted on accepting the blame, and indeed on making sure that all physicians who nodded off were to be blamed entirely. We have encour- aged this person to switch to a career better suited to physi- cian-blaming, such as law, evidence-based medicine or bioethics. (The last option appears to be the most efficient for career change, often requiring no more than a mini- sabbatical and a willingness to preface even the most banal comments with “as Plato has taught us.”)

Nodding off at presentations is common and may pose a risk to the health of patients. Studies are required to assess the effectiveness of interventions (e.g., lessons in public speaking, wardrobe makeovers, drama classes) in prevent- ing nodding off during lectures.

Kenneth Rockwood is from Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS. David Hogan is from the University of Calgary, Calgary, Alta., and Christopher Patterson is from McMaster University, Hamilton, Ont.

1444 JAMC • 7 DÉC. 2004; 171 (12)

No. of NOELs

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Appendix 1: Questionnaire used to interview physicians who nodded off

Did you feel encouraged to know that you were not alone? (circle one) 12345

Very encouraged, able to live a normal life again without shame

Neither here nor there

More despondent than ever to be part of such rabble

Would you be likely to attend such a lecture again? (circle one) 12345

Can’t wait — Will go along Would rather always need a nap if paid have teeth

drilled

Whose fault do you think it was that you nodded off? (circle one) 12345

The speaker’s fault Mea maxima entirely culpa

The long and the short of it

Michelle Greiver

The day after I returned from summer vacation this year, I felt as if I needed some medication to help me cope with the accumulated pile of correspondence, lab re- ports and phone calls to return. Perhaps someone should devise a “morning-after-vacation” pill. My of- fice administrator says that going through all this material is like conducting an archaeological dig, in which I remove progressive strata of charts to get to the bottom of things. And of course there was the usual volume of patients with urgent problems that could be handled only by me (it’s nice to be thought indispensible) and that had to wait (the urgency notwithstanding) for my return.

To boot, the little steel bar that provides tension to hold the ear- pieces of my stethoscope in place broke that day, so that the instru- ment kept falling off my ears. I ordered a new one, and the manufac- turer has sent me one that is 27 inches long, a stethoscope on Viagra. I can hold the bell at arm’s length, perhaps for patients I don’t really care about. The company says that’s the only length they have: they’re supersizing everything these days. The long and the short of it is, I feel like I’ve got an elephant’s trunk swinging around my neck. My old forme fruste was never as frustrating as this.

Dear Santa, I really have tried to be good. Next year could I please have a long vacation and a short stethoscope?

Michelle Greiver is a family physician in Toronto, Ont.

DOI:10.1503/cmaj.1041632

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