The Impact of Work Hours and Schedules on the Physical and Psychological Well-Being in Medical Practices

Abstract

In a random sample of just over 300 medical doctors and consultants throughout Germany, various job-related variables were assessed together with sociodemographic data including time-related parameters of work, and specific categories of accidents (moving vehicle and work-related). Occupational stress was related to number of weekly working hours, duration of the lunch-break, as well as age. Moving vehicle accidents (MVAs) were significantly correlated with the incidence of work-related accidents during the last year. There was no evidence that medical doctors working longer weekly hours were more likely to be involved in a driving or work-related accident per se, but they did tend to report more accidents during house visits. Moving vehicle accidents were best predicted by the onset of working day as well as the number of dependent children (more children associated with less accidents). Furthermore, work-related accidents were significantly more frequent in larger communities and when surgeries were later in finishing. The implication of these findings are discussed.