Does doctors’ workload impact supervision and ward activities of final-year students? A prospective study

• DOI: 10.1186/1472-6920-12-24
• Publication Date: 2012-04-27T18:14:48Z
• Authors: Nora Celebi; Rodoula Tsouraki; Corinna Engel; Friederike Holder...; Reimer Riessen; Peter Weyrich
• Keywords: Educational measurement

Hospital doctors face constantly increasing workloads. Besides caring for patients, their duties also comprise the education of future colleagues. The aim this study was to objectively investigate whether workload arising from increased patient care interferes with student supervision and is associated more non-medical activities final-year medical students.A total 54 students were asked keep a diary daily over three-week period at beginning internship in Internal Medicine. Students categorized activities--both non-medical--according they had: (1) only watched, (2) assisted ward resident, (3) performed activity themselves under or (4) without supervision. reported on particular day matched specific workload-index derived hospital information system, including number patients treated corresponding that day, correction factor according comorbidity complexity level (PCCL), admissions discharges. Both residents blinded question.A 32 diaries (59 %, 442 recorded working days) handed back. Overall, 1.2 ± 1.3 supervised, 1.8 1.6 3.6 1.7 per day. supervised reported, (p < .0001). No relationship between could be shown.There significant association doctors' by students. had no effect