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Related Experiment Videos

What does the intern do?

J Arthurson, T Mander-Jones, J Rocca

    The Medical Journal of Australia
    |January 17, 1976
    PubMed
    Summary
    This summary is machine-generated.

    A 1972 study found that hospital interns spent excessive time on non-clinical activities like transit and waiting. This medical education research suggests interns need better secretarial support to improve clinical work efficiency.

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    Area of Science:

    • Medical Education
    • Hospital Administration
    • Workforce Studies

    Background:

    • Intern physicians are crucial to hospital operations.
    • Understanding intern time allocation is vital for optimizing medical training and patient care.
    • Previous studies on intern work patterns in the early 1970s are limited.

    Purpose of the Study:

    • To analyze the minute-by-minute professional work activities of interns.
    • To identify the proportion of time spent on clinical work versus other activities.
    • To assess the need for improved support systems for interns.

    Main Methods:

    • A professional work study was conducted over three consecutive weeks in December 1972.
    • Time allocation was recorded minute-by-minute for three interns at the Royal Adelaide Hospital.

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  • Clinics observed included general medical, general surgical, and urological.

    • Main Results:

    • Interns spent a disproportionate amount of time on non-clinical activities, including transit and waiting.
    • Significant time was allocated to activities outside direct patient care.
    • The study highlights potential inefficiencies in the intern workflow.

    Conclusions:

    • There is a significant imbalance between clinical work and other time demands on interns.
    • Enhanced secretarial and administrative support could improve intern efficiency and focus on clinical duties.
    • Findings suggest a need for systemic changes to support medical interns better.