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Related Experiment Videos

Junior hospital doctors: a weighty issue.

S Hone1, T Mackle, I Keogh

  • 1Department of Otolaryngology/HNS, Beaumont Hospital, Dublin, Ireland. stephen-hone@uiowa.edu

Irish Medical Journal
|November 6, 2001
PubMed
Summary

Junior hospital doctors carry significant weight in their white coats, averaging 1.63 Kg. This load, heavier for junior staff and medical specialists, may increase fatigue during long shifts.

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Area of Science:

  • Medical Education
  • Occupational Health
  • Clinical Practice

Background:

  • Hospital doctors utilize white coats as a standard part of their attire.
  • The practical implications of items carried by doctors in their white coats are not well-documented.
  • Understanding the burden carried by junior doctors is essential for optimizing their work environment.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine the average weight and types of items carried by junior hospital doctors in their white coats.
  • To investigate potential differences in carried weight based on doctor seniority, specialty, and gender.

Main Methods:

  • A prospective study involving 54 junior hospital doctors who agreed to participate.
  • Detailed itemization and weighing of all contents found within participants' white coats.
  • Statistical analysis to compare weight carried across different doctor groups.

Main Results:

  • The mean weight of items carried was 1.63 Kg.
  • Interns and Senior House Officers (SHOs) carried significantly more weight than registrars.
  • Medical specialists carried significantly more than surgical specialists; no gender difference was observed.
  • 33% of doctors carried cigarettes.

Conclusions:

  • Junior hospital doctors carry a substantial weight in their white coats, comparable to nearly two 1Kg bags of sugar.
  • This excess weight may contribute to increased physical fatigue during demanding work hours.
  • Weight carried decreases as doctors gain seniority, suggesting a potential adaptation or change in practice.

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