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Swiss survey results indicate 50-hour workweek limitations for residents have failed
Businger A. Arch Surg. 2010;145(6):558-563.
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In their survey, Swiss researchers found that most surgical residents and consultants think the 50-hour workweek limitation has negatively affected surgical training and the quality of patient care.
“Despite somewhat improved resident quality of life, the work hour limitation for surgical residencies in Switzerland appears to be a failure,” Adrian Businger, MD, University Hospital Basel, Basel, Switzerland, and colleagues wrote in their report.
Under the work hour limitations, implemented Jan. 1, 2005, residents can work no more than 14 hours a day, including all breaks. They must also have 11 or more consecutive hours of rest per day.
In 2006, the researchers sent an anonymous survey to 93 surgical departments in Switzerland; 52 departments responded. In all, 405 physicians completed the survey.
Results showed that surgical residents and consultants felt the 50-hour workweek was detrimental in the following ways:
- 62.8% of residents and 77.2% of consultants felt that the work hour limitations had a negative effect on surgical training (P<.001);
- 43% of residents and 70.1% of consultants felt it negatively affected patient care (P<.001); and
- most respondents agreed that the 50-hour workweek negatively affected operative time (76.9% of residents and 73.4% of consultants) and overall operating room experience (73.8% of residents and 84.8% of consultants).
On the other hand, 8.1% of residents and 4.9% of consultants felt the work hour limitation benefited surgical training.
Overall, 58.4% of residents and 81.5% of consultants felt that the workweek limitation had improved residents’ quality of life (P<.001). On a 0 to 100 scale, residents (average score, 52) were more satisfied with the 50-hour workweek than consultants (average score, 41).