Study of surgical resident working hours and time utilization

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Surgical Residency
• Work Hour Analysis

Background:

• Recent proposals advocate for changes in surgical resident working hours and conditions.
• Objective data on surgical resident work hours and time utilization is scarce.
• Understanding resident time allocation is crucial for optimizing training and well-being.

Purpose of the Study:

• To objectively quantify the working hours and time utilization of surgical residents.
• To compare actual time spent on various activities with preconceived notions.
• To provide data for assessing residency program structures and compliance with guidelines.

Main Methods:

• Surgical residents on general surgery services meticulously logged activities in 15-minute intervals for four weeks.
• Data was collected 24 hours a day, with activities categorized into nine predefined groups.
• Two university and two Veterans Affairs hospital services participated, providing a diverse setting.

Main Results:

• Residents averaged 95.8 hours/week in the hospital, with 85.8 hours dedicated to work and 10 hours to sleep.
• Average nightly sleep was 5.9 hours (4.2 on-call, 6.2 off-call).
• Direct patient care and operating room time averaged 8.7 hours/day (10.25 hours on weekdays).

Conclusions:

• This survey provides objective data on surgical resident work hours and time allocation.
• Findings indicate discrepancies between resident/faculty perceptions and actual time spent on various tasks.
• Program directors can utilize such surveys to evaluate residency structures and ensure guideline compliance.