Workload Accommodations for Late Career Physicians: Associations Between Call Schedule and Disruptive Behavior

TL;DR

This study explores how heavy workloads affect late career physicians and their likelihood of disruptive behavior.

Contribution

The study identifies a significant relationship between call schedule workload and disruptive behavior in older physicians.

Findings

Late career physicians with heavy call schedules are more likely to exhibit disruptive behavior.

There is a significant Age X Call Schedule interaction affecting workplace behavior.

Workload accommodations could improve retention and performance in late career physicians.

Abstract

The recent Federation of State Medical Board census data revealed a trend of increasing physician attrition1. To maximize retention of late career physicians, it will be important for healthcare systems to consider accommodations that will reduce physician stress and burnout and support maximal performance. Factors such as lack of sleep and workload contribute to feelings of burnout and can be associated with behavioral difficulties and interpersonal problems. 2. Especially for late career physicians, workload is recognized as a potential risk factor and impediment to staying in the workforce4. In a study examining senior emergency physicians, senior physicians noted increasing difficulties with their workload including difficulty recovering from overnight shifts3. Our study explores associations between physicians’ call schedules and disruptive workplace behavior across the career span. This study utilizes a sample of physicians between 23 and 84 years of age (N = 89, mean 56) referred for a comprehensive fitness for duty assessment. The findings of this study indicate late career physicians who were referred for a fitness for duty assessment secondary to disruptive behavior had greater call schedule workloads, there is a significant Age X Call Schedule interaction as well. This research has implications for how to retain and optimize the functioning of late career physicians. Additionally, this study has implications for increasing methods of age inclusivity in the workplace.