Medical Resident Workload at a Multidisciplinary Hospital in Iran

Medical resident workload has been shown to be associated with learning efficiency and patient satisfaction. However, there is limited evidence about it in developing countries. This study aimed to evaluate the medical resident workload in a multidisciplinary teaching hospital in Tehran, Iran. All medical residents at Shariati Hospital, a teaching hospital affiliated with Tehran University of Medical Science, who were working between November and December 2011 were enrolled in this cross-sectional study. A self–reported questionnaire was used to gather information about their duty hours (including daily activities and shifts) and financial issues.135 (52.5%) out of 257 residents responded to the questionnaire. 72 (53.3%) residents were in surgical departments and 63 (46.7%) were in non-surgical departments. Mean duty hours per month were significantly higher in surgical (350.8 ±76.7) than non-surgical (300.6±74.2) departments (p=0.001). Three cardiology (a non-surgical group) residents (5.7%) and 30 residents (41%) in surgical groups (p<0.001) declared a number of “on-calls in the hospital” more than the approved number in the curriculum. The majority of residents (97.8%) declared that their salary was not sufficient to manage their lives and they needed other financial resources. Medical residents at teaching hospitals in Iran suffer from high workloads and low income. There is a need to reduce medical resident workload and increase salary to improve worklife balance and finances.