Researchers analyzed 3,452 hours of time-motion data on workflow patterns from the pediatric wards of nine hospitals.
Here are five things to know:
1. Researchers found trainees spent 34.7 percent of their work time in interprofessional communication and 20.5 percent of their time at the keyboard. Trainees spent 4.7 percent of their time in education activities.
2. Trainees working at night spent less time in interprofessional communication (29.5 percent).
3. On weekends, trainees allocated less time to educational activities (1.4 percent) and interprofessional communication (29.9 percent).
4. Researchers said defining time allocation precisely is a complex process. Education and interprofessional communication may occur simultaneously and time-motion analysis does not account well for multitasking.
5. However, researchers claim there is ample cause for concern that physicians do not spend a sufficient amount of time interacting with patients. Head researcher Amy Starmer, MD, PhD, from Boston Children’s Hospital, said, “Overall, it is concerning that pediatric residents spend relatively little time at patients’ bedsides, despite the centrality of direct patient care to their training, as well as to families’ care experiences.”
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