Evaluating the Relationship between Duty Hours and Quality of Life of Nigerian Early Career Doctors

Abstract

This study explored association between early career doctors (ECDs) duty hours and their quality of life (QoL). Information was collected on socio-demographics, duty hours and QoL of 391 Nigerian ECDs. Results showed median of 70 duty-hours weekly, 10 call-days monthly and 6 sleep-hours daily. Weekly duty-hours and daily sleep-hours were significantly negatively and positively correlated respectively with all four domains of WHOQoL. QoL potentially affects health of ECDs especially mental health. Policies targeted at improving ECDs workforce, working conditions should improve QoL and curtail the potential impact of brain drain and attrition among ECDs in Nigeria.

Keywords:

• Doctors
• mental health
• quality of life
• Nigeria
• resident duty hours

Acknowledgments

We like to appreciate Miss Iyanu Adufe, Miss Tobi Akande and Miss Bunmi Ogunbode for their roles in the clerical and data entry from the participants. In addition, appreciation also goes to all the participants for their cooperation during recruitment and data collection for the study.

Disclosure statement

Authors are all ECDs except MI and the last three authors (OA(2), OI & KD). OO (2) and AS are officers of Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD); however, NARD’s role was not beyond provision of funding.

Additional information

Funding

This study was supported by the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) under her funding for the Research & Statistics Committee [Grant 00001].