title: UK doctors' views on the implementation of the European Working Time Directive as applied to medical practice: a quantitative analysis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To report on doctors' views, from all specialty backgrounds, about the European Working Time Directive (EWTD) and its impact on the National Health Service (NHS), senior doctors and junior doctors.
  
  
  METHODS
  All medical school graduates from 1999 to 2000 were surveyed by post and email in 2012.
  
  
  METHODS
  The UK.
  
  
  METHODS
  Among other questions, in a multipurpose survey on medical careers and career intentions, doctors were asked to respond to three statements about the EWTD on a five-point scale (from strongly agree to strongly disagree): 'The implementation of the EWTD has benefited the NHS', 'The implementation of the EWTD has benefited senior doctors' and 'The implementation of the EWTD has benefited junior doctors'.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The response rate was 54.4% overall (4486/8252), 55.8% (2256/4042) of the 1999 cohort and 53% (2230/4210) of the 2000 cohort. 54.1% (2427) of all respondents were women. Only 12% (498/4136 doctors) agreed that the EWTD has benefited the NHS, 9% (377) that it has benefited senior doctors and 31% (1289) that it has benefited junior doctors. Doctors' views on EWTD differed significantly by specialty groups: 'craft' specialties such as surgery, requiring extensive experience in performing operations, were particularly critical.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These cohorts have experience of working in the NHS before and after the implementation of EWTD. Their lack of support for the EWTD 4 years after its implementation should be a concern. However, it is unclear whether problems rest with the current ceiling on hours worked or with the ways in which EWTD has been implemented.
authors: UK Medical Careers Research Group, Nuffield Department of Population Health, University of Oxford, Old Road Campus, Headington, Oxford, UK.
authors: Jenny J
authors: JJ
authors: Maisonneuve
authors: Trevor W
authors: TW
authors: Lambert
authors: Michael J
authors: MJ
authors: Goldacre
mesh_terms: D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007396:Internship and Residency / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D009313:National Health Programs / Q000458:organization & administration; D010561:Personnel Staffing and Scheduling / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000458:organization & administration*; D010820:Physicians / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012737:Sex Factors; D013038:Specialization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors; D006113:United Kingdom
keywords: Health Services Administration & Management; Medical Education & Training