Abstract

IntroductionSurgeons regularly educate patients on health promoting behaviours including diet, sleep and exercise. No study thus far has explored surgeons’ personal compliance with these health behaviours and their relationship with surgical performance. The primary outcomes of this study were self-reported health, health related behaviours, wellbeing, fatigue and surgical performance. MethodsA survey of validated themes on health related behaviours, workplace variables and performance was distributed to surgical trainees and consultants in the UK and Ireland through the Association for Surgeons in Training (ASiT). Non-parametric analysis was used to determine inferential associations. ResultsNinety five surgeons (51.5% female, 39.9% registrars) completed the survey. 94% and 74% reported ‘good’ or better overall health and mental wellbeing respectively. The majority (54.7%) reported inconsistent sleep patterns. Less than a quarter engage in regular exercise. Sixty two and 64.2% reported being regularly fatigued and bothered by feelings of anxiety and/or depression respectively. Poor self-reported health and wellbeing were associated with poorer reported off-call performance (p < .01). Higher levels of fatigue negatively impacted self-reported surgical and non-surgical task proficiency (p < .01). Discussion and conclusionSurgeons reported high levels of overall health. However, healthy behaviours around sleep, diet and exercise were not consistently reported. Fewer reported good mental health and emotional well-being. Self-reported health behaviours including sleep and physical activity were associated with surgical performance. Strategies to improve modifiable lifestyle factors which will optimise physical health, mental wellbeing and levels of fatigue may optimise surgical performance.

Highlights

  • Surgeons regularly educate patients on health promoting behaviours including diet, sleep and ex­ ercise

  • The aim of this study is to explore relationships levels of self-reported health behaviours and work factors, with overall health, mental well­ being, level of fatigue, and self-reported surgical performance

  • Study approval was obtained from the Joint Research Ethics Committee (JREC) of Tallaght University Hospital and St

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Summary

Introduction

Surgeons regularly educate patients on health promoting behaviours including diet, sleep and ex­ ercise. No study far has explored surgeons’ personal compliance with these health behaviours and their relationship with surgical performance. The primary outcomes of this study were self-reported health, health related behaviours, wellbeing, fatigue and surgical performance. Higher levels of fatigue nega­ tively impacted self-reported surgical and non-surgical task proficiency (p < .01). Healthy behaviours around sleep, diet and exercise were not consistently reported. Self-reported health behaviours including sleep and physical activity were associated with surgical per­ formance. Strategies to improve modifiable lifestyle factors which will optimise physical health, mental well­ being and levels of fatigue may optimise surgical performance. The duties of a surgeon are multifaceted and include educating pa­ tients on lifestyle factors known to impact health outcomes such as stress, diet, sleep and exercise. No study far has exclusively explored surgeons’ self-reported (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)

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