Findings of the Resident Workload Using Mobile Application in Japan

Excessive workload among medical residents remains a social issue, particularly in Japan. The government requires management of overtime work in health institutions. Among young healthcare workers, the demand for sustainable work-life balance is increasing. This study evaluated the current workload and work allocation of postgraduate residents using a mobile application.

A cross-sectional study including postgraduate trainees from three major teaching hospitals was conducted in 2021 using a mobile application. The residents recorded their work (direct patient care, indirect patient care, education, research, administration, personal time, and others) using the application. The data were descriptively analyzed.

A total of 69 residents participated in the survey. Their mean working hours was 11 h and 45 min, and their mean sleep time was 6 h and 18 min. The proportions of work allocation time by category were 35.5% for direct patient care; 35.5%, indirect patient care; 10.1%, personal time; 9.4%, education; 8.6%, administration; and 1%, research.

The development of a mobile application enabled us to measure the residents' workload and work allocation. The time spent on direct and indirect patient care increased over a decade, whereas the time spent on educational activities and research remained limited.