Clinical trial NCT04677036: Self-Reported Surgeon Health Behaviours: A Multicentre, Observational Exploration With the Association of Surgeons in Training Into the Modifiable Factors That Impact Surgical Performance
Official title: Self-Reported Surgeon Health Behaviours: A Multicentre, Observational Exploration With the Association of Surgeons in Training Into the Modifiable Factors That Impact Surgical Performance
Study type: OBSERVATIONAL
Overall status: COMPLETED
Conditions: Health Behavior
Lead sponsor: University of Dublin, Trinity College
Sponsor class: OTHER
First posted: 2020-12-21
Enrollment: 100
Sex: ALL
Standard ages: CHILD
ADULT
OLDER_ADULT
Accepts healthy volunteers: yes
Observational model: COHORT
Time perspective: PROSPECTIVE
Sampling method: NON_PROBABILITY_SAMPLE
Study population: Trainees and consultant surgeons

Brief summary: Introduction: Surgeons 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 this study were self-reported health, health related behaviours, wellbeing, fatigue and surgical performance. Methods: A 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. Results: Ninety five surgeons (median age 35-44, 51.5 % female, 39.9% registrars) completed the survey. 94% reported having at least 'good' overall health. . A majority (54.7%) report inconsistent sleep patterns, while less than a quarter engage in regular exercise. 74% reported having at least 'good' overall mental and emotional well being.

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\&lt;.01). Higher levels of fatigue negatively impacted self-reported surgical and non-surgical task proficiency (p\&lt;.01). Discussion and Conclusion: Surgeons reported high levels of overall health. However, healthy behaviours around sleep, diet and exercise were not consistently reported. Fatigue, anxiety and regular rumination were reported by greater than half of respondents. When compared to overall health numbers, 20% less surgeons reported overall mental health and emotional well-being that good or better. 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. Further research should target these behaviours to elicit desired changes.


Eligibility criteria: Inclusion Criteria:

* surgeon
* working in TUH or member of ASIT

Exclusion Criteria:

* non surgeon
* not a member of ASIT or TUH

Primary outcomes:
measure: Self-reported health and wellbeing [This was a survey which was designed and validated as part of the study]
timeFrame: June-August 2020
measure: Levels of Fatigue
timeFrame: June-August 2020
Secondary outcomes:
measure: Sleep Outcomes
timeFrame: June-August 2020
measure: Performance Outcomes
timeFrame: June-August 2020
measure: Stress Outcomes
timeFrame: June-August 2020
measure: Commuting Outcomes
timeFrame: June-August 2020
measure: Physical Activity Outcomes
timeFrame: June-August 2020
measure: Diet Outcomes
timeFrame: June-August 2020
measure: Health Check Outcome
timeFrame: June-August 2020
measure: Work Culture Outcome
timeFrame: June-August 2020
Other outcomes:
Locations:
city: Dublin 24
country: Ireland
facility: Tallaght University Hospital
state: XX - Other State/Province/Territory
Study officials:
affiliation: University of Dublin, Trinity College
name: Dale F Whelehan, BSc
role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR
References: