Document Detail


A gender-based analysis of work patterns, fatigue, and work/life balance among physicians in postgraduate training.
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  20736682     Owner:  NLM     Status:  MEDLINE    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
PURPOSE: To document fatigue in New Zealand junior doctors in hospital-based clinical training positions and identify work patterns associated with work/life balance difficulties. This workforce has had a duty limitation of 72 hours/week since 1985. The authors chose a gender-based analytical approach because of the increasing proportion of female medical graduates. METHOD: The authors mailed a confidential questionnaire to all 2,154 eligible junior doctors in 2003. The 1,412 respondents were working > or = 40 hours/week (complete questionnaires from 1,366: response rate: 63%; 49% women). For each participant, the authors calculated a multidimensional fatigue risk score based on sleep and work patterns. RESULTS: Women were more likely to report never/rarely getting enough sleep (P < .05), never/rarely waking refreshed (P < .001), and excessive sleepiness (P < .05) and were less likely to live with children up to 12 years old (P < .001). Fatigue risk scores differed by specialty but not by gender.Fatigue risk scores in the highest tertile were an independent risk factor for reporting problems in social life (odds ratio: 3.83; 95% CI: 2.79-5.28), home life (3.37; 2.43-4.67), personal relationships (2.12; 1.57-2.86), and other commitments (3.06; 2.23-4.19).Qualitative analyses indicated a common desire among men and women for better work/life balance and for part-time work, particularly in relation to parenthood. CONCLUSIONS: Limitation of duty hours alone is insufficient to manage fatigue risk and difficulties in maintaining work/life balance. These findings have implications for schedule design, professional training, and workforce planning.
Authors:
Philippa Gander; Celia Briar; Alexander Garden; Heather Purnell; Alistair Woodward
Publication Detail:
Type:  Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't    
Journal Detail:
Title:  Academic medicine : journal of the Association of American Medical Colleges     Volume:  85     ISSN:  1938-808X     ISO Abbreviation:  Acad Med     Publication Date:  2010 Sep 
Date Detail:
Created Date:  2010-08-25     Completed Date:  2010-09-28     Revised Date:  -    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  8904605     Medline TA:  Acad Med     Country:  United States    
Other Details:
Languages:  eng     Pagination:  1526-36     Citation Subset:  AIM; IM    
Affiliation:
Sleep/Wake Research Centre, Massey University, Wellington, New Zealand. p.h.gander@massey.ac.nz
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MeSH Terms
Descriptor/Qualifier:
Burnout, Professional / epidemiology,  prevention & control
Chi-Square Distribution
Fatigue / epidemiology*
Female
Humans
Internship and Residency*
Job Satisfaction
Logistic Models
Male
New Zealand / epidemiology
Occupational Health*
Parenting
Physicians / psychology*
Physicians, Women / psychology
Questionnaires
Risk Assessment
Risk Factors
Sex Factors
Sleep Deprivation / epidemiology
Work Schedule Tolerance
Workload*

From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine


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