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Table 1 Time spent performing specific tasks and their perceived attractiveness

From: The workday of hospital surgeons: what they do, what makes them satisfied, and the role of core tasks and administrative tasks; a diary study

Tasks

Time spent with task

How much they liked doing the task

(1 (very negative) - 5 (very positive))

 

Overall

N = 78

Chief of staff/con- sultant

N = 23

Fellow/chief resident

N = 22

Resident

N = 33

Overall

Chief of staff/consultant

Fellow/chief resident

Resident

M (SD)

M (SD)

M (SD)

M (SD)

M (SD)

N

M (SD)

N

M (SD)

N

M (SD)

N

Surgery-related

 Performing surgery / assisting surgery

2h20m (1h4m)

2h38m (1 h23 m)

2h41m (1h50m)

1 h53 m (1h48m)

4.25 (.66)

N = 68

4.28 (.44)

N = 22

4.34 (.67)

N = 22

4.13 (.81)

N = 24

 

 Preparing surgical strategy

13 m (14 m)

14 m (13 m)

16 m (16 m)

10 m (13 m)

4.06 (.60)

N = 58

4.18 (.57)

N = 19

4.11 (.54)

N = 20

3.89 (.69)

N = 19

 

Individual patient work

 Medical consultations*

1h10m (1 h)

1h31m (57 m)

1h7m (50 m)

58 m (1h6m)

3.76 (.59)

N = 63

4.02 (.34)

N = 20

3.92 (.51)

N = 19

3.41 (.65)

N = 24

*residents rated it as less attractive than the others

 Ward Rounds*

58 m (41 m)

43 m (21 m)

45 m (25 m)

1 h16 m (52 m)

3.83(.60)

N = 74

4.04 (.52)

N = 23

3.96 (.50)

N = 22

3.57 (.65)

N = 29

*residents spent more time than chiefs/consultants and fellows/ chief residents and rated it as less attractive than others; women rated it as more attractive than men

 Patient-related conversations*

25 m (20 m)

25 m (21 m)

17 m (13 m)

29 m (23 m)

3.58 (.65)

N = 66

3.89 (.49)

N = 19

3.67 (.50)

N = 19

3.31 (.74)

N = 28

*residents rated it as less attractive than the others

Meetings / communication about patients

 Daily meetings

45 m (23 m)

39 m (17 m)

45 m (25 m)

49 m (24 m)

3.53 (.67)

N = 76

3.62 (.60)

N = 23

3.5 (.64)

N = 22

3.49 (.74)

N = 31

 

 Specific meetings* (e.g., tumorboard)

14 m (14 m)

17 m (15 m)

13 m (11 m)

13 m (17 m)

3.63 (.78)

N = 48

3.88 (.68)

N = 18

3.42 (.77)

N = 14

3.53 (.87)

N = 16

*women rated it as more attractive than men

 Other discussions about patients*

16 m (18 m)

16 m (16 m)

17 m (18 m)

15 m (20 m)

3.56 (.72)

N = 50

3.96 (.63)

N = 15

3.54 (.56)

N = 17

3.24 (.79)

N = 18

*residents rated it as less attractive than chiefs/consultants; women rated it as more attractive than men

Teaching / Research

 Continuing education

16 m (25 m)

18 m (31 m)

12 m (11 m)

16 m (27 m)

4.05 (.76)

N = 44

4.4 (.53)

N = 13

4.02 (.66)

N = 15

3.79 (.93)

N = 16

*residents rated it as less attractive than chiefs/consultants. Interaction position x gender: male residents rated it as less attractive than male fellows/chief residents, female residents rated it as more attractive than female fellows/chief residents.

 Research

17 m (40 m)

12 m (33 m)

22 m (41 m)

17 m (43 m)

3.89 (.65)

N = 24

4.08 (.66)

N = 6

3.89 (.80)

N = 10

3.75 (.46)

N = 8

 

 Teaching*

14 m (25 m)

20 m (26 m)

23 m (32 m)

5 m (12 m)

4.22 (.50)

N = 42

4.32 (.47)

N = 17

4.17(.46)

N = 16

4.13 (.62)

N = 9

*residents spent less time than fellows/chief residents

Leadership and Management*

27 m (55 m)

1 h14 m (1h20m)

18 m (26 m)

0 m (0 m)

3.81 (.63)

N = 34

3.81 (.56)

N = 19

3.81 (.76)

N = 14

4 (.00)

N = 1

*residents spent less time than chiefs/consultants, who spent more time than fellows/chief residents

Documentation and Administration

 Patient documentation *

1 h25 m (1 h05 m)

51 m (36 m)

1 h (39 m)

2h06m (1 h13 m)

2.96 (.67)

N = 72

3.19 (.45)

N = 22

3.14 (.65)

N = 21

2.66 (.72)

N = 29

*residents spend more time than chief/consultants and fellows/chief residents; women spent more time than men; residents rated it as less attractive than the others

 General Administration*

46 m (36 m)

42 m (30 m)

40 m (37 m)

53 m (39 m)

2.63 (.78)

N = 72

2.88 (.67)

N = 21

2.79 (.85)

N = 22

2.32 (.70)

N = 29

*residents rated it as less attractive than the others; women rated it as more attractive than men

Othera

 Related to medical tasks (e.g. walking between rooms, waiting)

2h2m (2h2m)

1 h33 m (1h54m)

2h40m (2h11m)

1h58m (1h59m)

     

 Unrelated to medical tasks (e.g. breaks, private calls)

5 m (13 m)

9 m (17 m)

3 m (13 m)

3 m (11 m)

     
  1. An asterisk in the first column indicates significant differences between groups; these are described in the last column
  2. aThe two subcategories are based on coding the answers provided