Work-related fatigue among medical personnel in Taiwan

Work-related fatigue among medical personnel is a major concern for patient safety, however heavy on-call duty is common in many hospitals. The purpose of this study was to investigate the prevalence of self-reported work-related fatigue and its associated factors.

A cross-sectional survey of 1833 participants was conducted in two hospitals in Taipei City, Taiwan, using a self-administered questionnaire. Participants reported their demographic characteristics, health-related behavior, health status and symptoms, and work-related fatigue during the past 3 months.

The prevalence of work-related fatigue among the 1833 participants was 30.9%. Younger participants (20-29 years old) were more likely to report work-related fatigue than older participants (40-65 years old) [adjusted odds ratio (aOR) = 1.55, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.18-2.01]. Physicians, nurses, and medical technicians were more likely to report work-related fatigue symptoms than administrative personnel (aOR = 2.30, 95% CI = 1.57-2.79; aOR = 2.83, 95% CI = 1.87-3.99; and aOR = 2.01, 95% CI = 1.12-3.06, respectively). Those who drank coffee more than five times a week were more likely to report work-related fatigue than those who did not drink coffee at all (aOR = 2.53, 95% CI = 1.25-1.93). Participants with poor and very poor self-reported health were more likely to report work-related fatigue (aOR = 1.80, 95% CI = 1.26-2.38) than those who reported that their health was fair, good, or very good.

We identified factors associated with work-related fatigue among hospital workers in Taipei City. These findings can be applied toward on-the-job training and the development of preventive measures for occupational safety in general hospitals.