Work-Related Accumulated Fatigue among Doctors in Tertiary Hospitals: A Cross-Sectional Survey in Six Provinces of China

Changmin Tang, Chaojie Liu, Pengqian Fang, Yuanxi Xiang and Rui Min
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Changmin Tang: School of Management, Hubei University of Chinese Medicine, Wuhan 430065, China
Chaojie Liu: School of Psychology and Public Health, La Trobe University, Melbourne, VIC 3086, Australia
Pengqian Fang: Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China
Yuanxi Xiang: School of Management, Hubei University of Chinese Medicine, Wuhan 430065, China
Rui Min: Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China

IJERPH, 2019, vol. 16, issue 17, 1-13

Abstract: Objectives: “Karoshi” (death due to overwork) of doctors occurred frequently and attracted increasing attention in recent years in China. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of work-related accumulated fatigue of doctors and its associated factors in tertiary hospitals of China. Methods: A cross-sectional questionnaire survey was conducted on 1729 full-time doctors employed by 24 tertiary hospitals across eastern developed, central developing, and western underdeveloped regions of China. Accumulated fatigue was categorized into four levels using the “ Self-diagnosis Checklist for Assessment of Workers’ Accumulated Fatigue ” rated on a scale matrix considering both overwork and fatigue symptoms. Ordinal logistic regression analyses were performed to identify factors associated with work-related accumulated fatigue. Results: About 78.8% of respondents reported a “high level” of work-related accumulated fatigue, including 42.0% at a “very high” level. Male doctors and those aged between 30 and 45 years and who had a professional title were found to have higher levels of accumulative fatigue than others. Low salary and poor working conditions (in the western region) were also significantly associated with high levels of work-related accumulated fatigue ( p < 0.05). Conclusion: High levels of work-related accumulated fatigue are prevalent in doctors working in tertiary hospitals in China. Male doctors establishing their early- and mid-careers are the high-risk group. Poor working conditions are associated with work-related accumulated fatigue.

Keywords: accumulated fatigue; medical doctor; tertiary hospital; work burden; China (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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