Resident physicians physical activity during on-call shifts: smartphone-based assessment

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Occupational Health
• Sports Medicine

Background:

• Assessing physical activity in resident physicians (RPs) during on-call shifts presents objective evaluation challenges.
• Smartphone integration offers a potential solution for quantitative assessment via pedometric analysis.

Purpose of the Study:

• To quantify the number of steps RPs walk during on-call shifts using smartphone-based pedometers.
• To utilize step counts as a measurable marker of physical activity.

Main Methods:

• 100 RPs' smartphone step data were collected over 17 months (Jan 2018-May 2019).
• A 26-hour shift comprised a regular workday followed by an in-house on-call period.
• Statistical analysis involved mixed-effects models and Fisher exact test (P < 0.05 significance).

Main Results:

• Average walking distance was 12,118 steps (8.6 km) per RP per shift.
• Pediatric intensive care and neurosurgery residents logged the most steps (16,347 and 15,630), while radiology residents logged the fewest (4,718).
• Physically active RPs walked significantly more than less active RPs (12,527 vs. 11,384 steps); weekday shifts involved more steps than weekend shifts.

Conclusions:

• Smartphone pedometers effectively analyze physical activity and workload during on-call shifts.
• This data is valuable for human resources, occupational health, and medical students selecting specialties.