Perceptions of fatigue - and perceived consequences - among Flemish obstetricians-gynaecologists: a survey

The effects of fatigue on the performance of medical trainees have been extensively studied. Much less is known about the effects of fatigue among doctors who have completed their training. The aim of this study was to inquire about the perception of fatigue and its consequences among certified obstetricians-gynaecologists (OGs).

A questionnaire was mailed to all certified OGs working in Flanders (Northern Belgium). Descriptive statistics as well as uni- and multivariate analyses for potential determinants of fatigue are presented.

Of the 450 questionnaires mailed, 260 (58%) were returned. Half (52%) of the doctors worked more than 60 h/week. During an average working day, four out of ten respondents indicated they experienced a certain degree of fatigue, and one in ten felt really tired. Fatigue was associated with long working hours and led in a sizeable proportion of respondents to dissatisfaction (29%) and to medical/surgical errors (19%). None of the perceived errors resulted in loss of life. Academic OGs worked more hours/week but fewer during the night than their colleagues in private practice. The former reported having made significantly more medical errors (26%) than the latter (11%).

Tired OGs have less job satisfaction, and perceive they make more errors. None of the perceived errors resulted in loss of life. Certified OGs working more than 60 h/week are more frequently tired.