Time clock requirements for hospital physicians.

Area of Science:

• Health Policy
• Medical Professionalism
• Physician Workforce Studies

Background:

• A 2011 agreement in Israel mandated public hospital physicians to clock in/out, following a doctors' strike.
• Media predicted widespread physician departures due to negative reactions to the policy.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine physician reactions to the clock-in/clock-out policy six months post-implementation.
• To assess the relationship between these reactions and physicians' employment context.
• To investigate the role of 'sense of calling' in moderating negative reactions and quit intentions.

Main Methods:

• A survey was administered to 676 physicians across 42 Israeli hospitals.
• The survey assessed reactions to the clock policy, hospital administration, and work-related factors.
• Statistical analysis examined correlations between reactions, sense of calling, and quit intentions.

Main Results:

• Physician reactions to the clock-in/clock-out policy were predominantly negative.
• A higher sense of calling correlated with more negative reactions to the clock and increased quit intentions.
• Despite negative reactions, overall quit intentions remained low, suggesting a buffering effect of the sense of calling.

Conclusions:

• The physicians' sense of calling appears to mitigate quit intentions despite dissatisfaction with the clock-in/clock-out policy.
• Physician reactions to regulatory interventions are influenced by their work environment and professional identity.
• Medical professionalism can act as a buffer against negative responses to unpopular workplace regulations.