Akaninyene Eseme Ubom1, AbdulHafiz Oladapo Adesunkanmi2, Chinedu Udochukwu Ndegbu3, Simon Adewale Balogun4, Samuel Chibuzo Ajekwu4, Sinmidele Olamiposi Sowemimo4, Adebayo Moses Olugbami4, Philip Ade Ekhaiyeme5, Olalekan Olasehinde4,6, Ibraheem Olayemi Awowole1,7, Omotade Adebimpe Ijarotimi1,7. 1. Department of Obstetrics, Gynaecology, and Perinatology, Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospitals Complex, Ile-Ife, Osun State, Nigeria. 2. Department of Surgery, Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospitals Complex, Ile-Ife, Osun State, Nigeria. ahafizo@yahoo.co.uk. 3. Colorectal Surgery Unit, Department of Surgery, The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust, Wolverhampton, UK. 4. Department of Surgery, Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospitals Complex, Ile-Ife, Osun State, Nigeria. 5. Department of Surgery, University College Hospital, Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria. 6. Department of Surgery, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State, Nigeria. 7. Faculty of Clinical Sciences, Department of Obstetrics, Gynaecology, and Perinatology, College of Health Sciences, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun state, Nigeria.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Unregulated work schedules have deleterious effects on trainees' productivity and patients' safety. For these reasons, duty hours have been capped in many developed countries. Such regulations, however, appear to be lacking in many parts of Africa, and the effects of unregulated work hours in this part of the world have only been scantily documented. This study evaluated the work schedule of Nigerian surgical trainees, and its impact on their wellbeing, as well as assessed the perception of trainees towards capped duty hours. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey of 650 Nigerian Resident Doctors in surgical specialties was conducted in November 2020. Enquiries were made about their work schedules using a purpose-designed questionnaire, developed using Google Forms®. The data were analysed using the IBM SPSS version 23. RESULTS: The mean weekly work hours of surgical residents was 122.72 ± 34.17 h. Majority (228, 40.4%) of the residents had cumulative call hours of ≥ 72 h per week. One-half (283, 50.1%) of them worked continuously for up to 48-72 h during calls, with mean daily sleep hours of 3.53 ± 1.42 h during calls. The majority (558, 98.8%) of respondents had post-call clinical responsibilities. Seventy-five percent of the respondents reported hazards from prolonged work hours, and an overwhelming majority (530, 93.8%) desire official limits on work hours. CONCLUSION: Prolonged, unregulated work schedules appear to be the norm among Nigerian surgical trainees. This trend calls for urgent measures, to avoid potentially catastrophic consequences on both physicians and patients.
BACKGROUND: Unregulated work schedules have deleterious effects on trainees' productivity and patients' safety. For these reasons, duty hours have been capped in many developed countries. Such regulations, however, appear to be lacking in many parts of Africa, and the effects of unregulated work hours in this part of the world have only been scantily documented. This study evaluated the work schedule of Nigerian surgical trainees, and its impact on their wellbeing, as well as assessed the perception of trainees towards capped duty hours. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey of 650 Nigerian Resident Doctors in surgical specialties was conducted in November 2020. Enquiries were made about their work schedules using a purpose-designed questionnaire, developed using Google Forms®. The data were analysed using the IBM SPSS version 23. RESULTS: The mean weekly work hours of surgical residents was 122.72 ± 34.17 h. Majority (228, 40.4%) of the residents had cumulative call hours of ≥ 72 h per week. One-half (283, 50.1%) of them worked continuously for up to 48-72 h during calls, with mean daily sleep hours of 3.53 ± 1.42 h during calls. The majority (558, 98.8%) of respondents had post-call clinical responsibilities. Seventy-five percent of the respondents reported hazards from prolonged work hours, and an overwhelming majority (530, 93.8%) desire official limits on work hours. CONCLUSION: Prolonged, unregulated work schedules appear to be the norm among Nigerian surgical trainees. This trend calls for urgent measures, to avoid potentially catastrophic consequences on both physicians and patients.
Authors: Lindsay P Schwartz; Steven R Hursh; Lisa Boyle; Jonathan E Davis; Mark Smith; Shimae C Fitzgibbons Journal: Am J Surg Date: 2020-08-21 Impact factor: 2.565