How can the work of junior paediatricians be reduced?

The workload of pediatricians has increased over the past 30 years, due primarily to a rise in admissions of children to accident and emergency departments and to improved survival of premature infants. This has resulted in an increased number of infants treated and greater complexity of treatment. Junior physicians in pediatrics were found to work longer hours than those in other specialties, they were the busiest doctors in the hospital at night, and received the most frequent calls while on duty. Methods to reduce the workload of junior pediatricians, such as delaying certain tasks until the morning or assigning tasks to other medical staff, have been assessed. The workload of pediatricians may be reduced by increasing the number of neonatologists (physicians specialized in caring for newborns), delegating technical duties to nurses who have undergone advanced training, making the attendance by a pediatrician at deliveries optional, and decreasing tasks involving the recording of minor activities in diaries. However, many junior pediatricians were doubtful about these recommendations, particularly those concerning the need for an attending pediatrician at a delivery involving the use of forceps, or of an infant with possible birth defects. However, measures to reduce the heavy clinical workload in pediatrics should be implemented, because this problem has caused difficulty in recruiting junior staff and may adversely affect the educational goals of pediatric training programs. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)