The Southeastern Surgical Congress Survey of Surgical Workhours is intended to examine the work burden among practicing surgeons in a variety of settings. Currently, surgical residents often work in excess of 100 hours per work. However, effective July 1, 2003, it is mandated that surgical residents may not exceed 80 hours in a given week. There is very little existing data nationally on the work burden of practicing surgeons. The Southeastern Surgical Congress Survey of Surgical Workhours is intended to fill the gap in existing knowledge of surgical residents by collecting information from practicing surgeons that are members of the Southeastern Surgical Congress. The survey will query practicing surgeons on the number of hours they currently work. The total hours worked by Surgeons will also be examined by the specific duty performed while at work, including clinical or clinic hours, teaching hours, administrative hours, and research hours spent. These data will then be examined in relation to a number of demographic variables, including specialty, status (resident, private practice, etc.), type of practice, and state. Finally, the data will be examined in relation to increase or decrease of current clinical time, reimbursement per case, take home income, and malpractice insurance.
It is hoped that these data address the growing national issue of surgical work hours among residents, and allow more careful examination of issues facing practicing surgeons. Dr. James Bason of Survey Research Center at the University of Georgia and Dr. Thomas Gadacz of the Department of Surgery at Medical College of Georgia will work collaboratively to administer a structured survey to the 2,000 member Southeastern Surgical Congress. The study will be a three wave mixed mode data collection effort using web-based, mail, and telephone interviews methods. Dr. Bason and Dr. Gadacz will collaborate on analyzing and reporting the results of the study.
|
|
|
