The impact of shift patterns on junior doctors' perceptions of fatigue, training, work/life balance and the role of social support

نویسندگان

  • M Brown
  • P Tucker
  • F Rapport
  • H Hutchings
  • A Dahlgren
  • G Davies
  • P Ebden
چکیده

BACKGROUND The organisation of junior doctors' work hours has been radically altered following the partial implementation of the European Working Time Directive. Poorly designed shift schedules cause excessive disruption to shift workers' circadian rhythms. METHOD Interviews and focus groups were used to explore perceptions among junior doctors and hospital managers regarding the impact of the European Working Time Directive on patient care and doctors' well-being. RESULTS Four main themes were identified. Under "Doctors shift rotas", doctors deliberated the merits and demerits of working seven nights in row. They also discussed the impact on fatigue of long sequences of day shifts. "Education and training" focused on concerns about reduced on-the-job learning opportunities under the new working time arrangements and also about the difficulties of finding time and energy to study. "Work/life balance" reflected the conflict between the positive aspects of working on-call or at night and the impact on life outside work. "Social support structures" focused on the role of morale and team spirit. Good support structures in the work place counteracted and compensated for the effects of negative role stressors, and arduous and unsocial work schedules. CONCLUSIONS The impact of junior doctors' work schedules is influenced by the nature of specific shift sequences, educational considerations, issues of work/life balance and by social support systems. Poorly designed shift rotas can have negative impacts on junior doctors' professional performance and educational training, with implications for clinical practice, patient care and the welfare of junior doctors.

برای دانلود متن کامل این مقاله و بیش از 32 میلیون مقاله دیگر ابتدا ثبت نام کنید

ثبت نام

اگر عضو سایت هستید لطفا وارد حساب کاربری خود شوید

منابع مشابه

Perceived Social Support (PSS) and Work-Life Balance (WLB) in a Developing Country: The Moderating Impact of Work-Life Policy

This study, grounded on the Conservation of Resource (COR) theory, examines the role of perceived social support sources and the moderating impact of work-life policy on work-life balance (WLB) among female employees in the context of the Bangladeshi banking industry. Data were collected from 559 female employees from 39 commercial banks located in Dhaka and Chattogram through a questionnaire s...

متن کامل

Investigation of Job Fatigue, Quality of Life and Sleep of shift staff working in the electric distribution company of Ilam Province

Introduction: Shift work is one of the social phenomena that has its roots in the history of human origin and still exists today for economic and technological reasons. Due to the complications of shift work, the present study was conducted to investigate job fatigue, quality of life, and sleep of shift staff working in Ilam Electric Distribution Company. Materials and Methods: In this descrip...

متن کامل

A survey of Physical, Psychological, and Social Health Indices in Shift Working Nurses

Background andObjectives: Nurses comprise a majority of healthcare professionals. Therefore, their quality of life can directly impact the performance of health system at different level. The aim of this study was to explore the potential impact of work shift on physical, mental, and social aspects of nurses’ health.   Methods: A sample of 300 nurses from hospitals of the Rasht city situated ...

متن کامل

Shift work problems of healthcare workers at Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Iran, 2013

Background: Shift work can cause problems for workers’ health, especially nurses. This study was done to assess the problems caused by shift work and the nature of the job in nurses of the educational hospitals of Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Iran. Materials and Methods: This was a descriptive study carried out in 2013. The research participants were 159 nurses with and without...

متن کامل

Predicting Nurses' Burnout Based on Personality Traits, Work-Family Conflict and Social Support in the Covid-19 Epidemic

Background & Aims: One of the most important factors that reduces the productivity and ability of nurses to effectively perform job duties in work environments is job burnout. Job burnout brings many problems such as chronic fatigue, insomnia, facing family problems, negative attitudes and behaviors towards oneself, work and clients, absenteeism and lack of job satisfaction. Studies have shown ...

متن کامل

ذخیره در منابع من


  با ذخیره ی این منبع در منابع من، دسترسی به آن را برای استفاده های بعدی آسان تر کنید

برای دانلود متن کامل این مقاله و بیش از 32 میلیون مقاله دیگر ابتدا ثبت نام کنید

ثبت نام

اگر عضو سایت هستید لطفا وارد حساب کاربری خود شوید

عنوان ژورنال:

دوره 19  شماره 

صفحات  -

تاریخ انتشار 2010