Resident Duty Hours and Their Impact on Quality of Life and Residents’ Happiness
Cherdsak Iramaneerat MD, MHPE, PhD*, Supalarp Pasurawanich MD*
Affiliation : * Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
Background : Resident duty hours have been regulated in many countries. However, its impact on residents’ quality of life and
level of happiness was not conclusive.
Objective : (1) To determine the current status of resident duty hours in Thailand, (2) To evaluate the relationship between
resident duty hours and their quality of life, and their level of happiness.
Material and Method: We conducted a survey of 801 residents in a large university-based hospital, asking for: (1) demographic
data and estimated duty hours, (2) quality of life using an abbreviated WHO Quality of Life scale (WHOQOL-BREF), and (3)
level of happiness using the Oxford Happiness Questionnaire (OHQ).
Results : There were 282 (35%) returned questionnaires. The average duty hours was 124 hours per week. There was a
negative correlation between the duty hours and the quality of life, r = -0.22, p<0.01. There was no correlation between the
duty hours and the level of happiness, r = 0.10, p = 0.09.
Conclusion : With no duty hour regulations, residents were on duty more than generally acceptable standard, which has a
negative impact on their quality of life, but no impact on their level of happiness.
Keywords : Resident, Duty hours, Quality of life, Happiness, Questionnaires
