PT Journal AU Tucker, P Brown, M Dahlgren, A Davies, G Ebden, P Folkard, S Hutchings, H Åkerstedt, T TI The impact of junior doctors’ worktime arrangements on their fatigue and well-being SO Scandinavian Journal of Work, Environment & Health PD 11VL PY 2010 BP 458 EP 465 IS 6 DI 10.5271/sjweh.2985 WP https://www.sjweh.fi/show_abstract.php?abstract_id=2985 DE doctor; European Working Time Directive; fatigue; health; junior doctor; medical worker; physician; risk; shift work; sleep; well-being; work–life interference; working time; worktime; worktime arrangement SN 0355-3140 AB '

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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