title: Doctors' working conditions in emergency care units in Germany: a real-time assessment.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  As interest in doctors' work in Germany has increased over the last few years, this study determines how doctors spend their work time in emergency departments. The study also provides information on patient load and working conditions in emergency units.
  
  
  METHODS
  An observational time-and-motion study was carried out at three emergency departments. A single investigator followed emergency doctors and recorded the time spent on various work activities. Job activities were classified into 12 different main categories, including direct or indirect patient care.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The data showed that doctors in emergency departments had to work overtime (M=09.17 h). They performed more than 80 tasks per day and were forced to handle multitasking situations. Indirect patient care and administrative duties were the main tasks doctors spent time on during the day. Direct patient care and contact represented only a small proportion of work time.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Doctors working in emergency care units have to deal with highly unpredictable workloads and overtime work, and simultaneously should also care for patients and interact with a large number of different persons during each work shift. The findings of this study are useful in efforts to improve emergency medical care and doctors' working conditions.
authors: Institute of Occupational Medicine, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Free University Berlin and Humboldt-University Berlin, Thielallee 69-73, D-14195 Berlin, Germany. stefanie.mache@charite.de
authors: Stefanie
authors: S
authors: Mache
authors: Karin
authors: K
authors: Vitzthum
authors: Burghard F
authors: BF
authors: Klapp
authors: David A
authors: DA
authors: Groneberg
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008505:Medical Staff, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D013996:Time and Motion Studies; D016526:Workload; D017132:Workplace / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*