The impact of junior doctors' worktime arrangements on their fatigue and well-being

• Objective Many doctors report working excessively demanding schedules that comply with the European Working Time Directive (EWTD). We compared groups of junior doctors working on different schedules in order to identify which features of schedule design most negatively affected their fatigue and well-being in recent weeks. Methods Completed by 336 doctors, the questionnaires focused on the respondents’ personal circumstances, work situation, work schedules, sleep, and perceptions of fatigue, work–life balance and psychological strain. Results Working 7 consecutive nights was associated with greater accumulated fatigue and greater work–life interference, compared with working just 3 or 4 nights. Having only 1 rest day after working nights was associated with increased fatigue. Working a weekend on-call between 2 consecutive working weeks was associated with increased work–life interference. Working frequent on-calls (either on weekends or during the week) was associated with increased work–life interference and psychological strain. Inter-shift intervals of <10 hours were associated with shorter periods of sleep and increased fatigue. The number of hours worked per week was positively associated with work–life interference and fatigue on night shifts. Conclusion The current findings identify parameters, in addition to those specified in the EWTD, for designing schedules that limit their impact on doctors’ fatigue and well-being.

Ämnesord

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Hälsovetenskap -- Arbetsmedicin och miljömedicin (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Health Sciences -- Occupational Health and Environmental Health (hsv//eng)

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Hälsovetenskap -- Folkhälsovetenskap, global hälsa, socialmedicin och epidemiologi (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Health Sciences -- Public Health, Global Health, Social Medicine and Epidemiology (hsv//eng)

Nyckelord

doctor

European Working Time Directive

fatigue

health

junior doctor

medical worker

physician

risk

shift work

sleep

well-being

working time

worktime

worktime arrangement

work–life interference

MEDICINE

MEDICIN

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