A Preliminary Study on the Abnormal Deaths and Work Burden of Chinese Physicians: A Mixed Method Analysis and Implications for Smart Hospital Management

• DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2021.803089
• Publication Date: 2022-01-04T07:47:26Z
• Authors: Jun Liang; Yunfan He; Linye Fan; Mingfu Nuo; Dongxia Shen; Jie Xu; Xu Zheng; Tong Wang; Hui Qian; Jianbo Lei
• Keywords: Homicide

Background: The population of Chinese physicians is frequently threatened by abnormal death, including death overwork or homicide. This not only a health problem, but also social problem that has attracted the attention both hospitals and government. Objective: study aims to analyze characteristics in from 2007 2020 investigate relationship between physician workload, order provide information for policy makers request improvement technologies. Methods: A mixed research method was used. In ensure accuracy completeness, relatively comprehensive search conducted using multiple heterogeneous data sources on 2020. collected cases were then descriptively analyzed work-related risk concept framework deductive grounded theory approach. addition, workload calculated 2019 based three important indicators. Results: Between 2020, 207 events mainland publicly reported. Among victims, majority (~79%) died sudden death. number victims who men 5.5 times higher than women, ages 31–50 years. These mainly belonged departments surgery, anesthesiology, internal medicine, orthopedics. Further analysis direct causes showed 51 (31.1%) cardiogenic diseases. Additionally, per capita China increased drastically about 42% 2019, far exceeding workloads Europe, Asia, Australia (number inpatients 2017: 72 vs. 55, 50, 45). revealed there strong correlation deaths ( r = 0.683, P 0.01). Conclusion: High-intensity working conditions may be positively correlated with among physicians. Smart hospital technologies have potential alleviate this situation.