Fatigue and Associated Factors Among Intern Doctors in Bangladesh: A Cross-Sectional Study

Fatigue among health professionals can induce medical errors and adversely affect patient safety and well-being. This cross-sectional study assessed fatigue and its associated factors among intern physicians in Bangladesh.

This cross-sectional study was conducted among 350 intern physicians of three medical college hospitals in Bangladesh. A self-administered questionnaire consisting of socio-demographic details, work-related questions, and the Chalder Fatigue Scale was used.

Among the participants, 61.1% were female, and the mean age was 24.86 ± 1.03 years. Most (53.1%) interns resided in a hostel, and 18.6% were married. According to the Chalder Fatigue Scale mean fatigue score was 11.39 ± 6.86. Mean physical and mental fatigue was 7.58 ± 4.57 and 3.78 ± 2.85, respectively. In bimodal scoring, the prevalence of fatigue was 39.1%. Fatigue was significantly associated with department posted (p = 0.015), work hours (p = 0.008), night shifts in the last 1 month (p = 0.014), sleep duration (p < 0.001), relaxation time (p < 0.001), and involvement in academic activity (p = 0.041).

Fatigue prevalence was high among intern physicians in Bangladesh, and it was multifactorial in origin. The high prevalence of fatigue among intern physicians in Bangladesh underscores an urgent need for institutional interventions. Practical strategies such as regulating work hours, ensuring mandatory rest periods, providing fatigue management training, and promoting better sleep and relaxation environments could substantially mitigate fatigue.