The workload of emergency physician using Korean Emergency Physician Survey

¹인제대학교 부산백병원 응급의학과
²인제대학교 인문의학연구소
³을지대학교 노원을지병원 응급의학과
⁴명지병원 응급의학과
⁵경북대학교 의과대학 응급의학교실
⁶경희대학병원 응급의학과
⁷연세대학교 원주의과대학 의학교육학과
⁸연세대학교 원주세브란스기독병원 응급의학과
⁹동아대학교 의과대학 응급의학교실
¹⁰KS병원 응급의학과
¹¹가톨릭대학교 여의도성모병원 응급의학과
¹²순천향대학교 서울병원 응급의학과
¹³고려대학교 구로병원 응급의학과
¹⁴여수전남병원 응급의학과
¹⁵화홍병원 응급의학과
¹⁶창원경상대학교병원 응급의학과
¹⁷울산대학교 의과대학 예방의학과

Yoo Sang Yoon^1,2

, DongWoo Son¹

, Hong Jae Kim¹⁰

, Beom Sok Seo¹²

, Chang Gun Jee¹⁴

, Suk Jae Choi¹⁵

, In Hwan Yeo⁵

, Woo Jin Jung⁸

, Dae Sung Lim¹⁶

, Eu Sun Lee¹⁷

¹Department of Emergency Medicine, Inje University College of Medicine, Busan, Korea
²The Institute for Medical Humanities, Inje University, Busan, Korea
³Department of Emergency Medicine, Nowon Eulji Medical Center, Eulji University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
⁴Department of Emergency Medicine, Myongji Hospital, Goyang, Korea
⁵Department of Emergency Medicine, School of Medicine, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, Korea
⁶Department of Emergency Medicine, Kyung Hee University Hospital, Seoul, Korea
⁷Department of Medical Education, Yonsei University Wonju College of Medicine, Wonju, Korea
⁸Department of Emergency Medicine, Wonju Severance Christian Hospital, Wouju, Korea
⁹Department of Emergency Medicine, Dong-A University College of Medicine, Busan, Korea
¹⁰Department of Emergency Medicine, KS Hospital, Gwangju, Korea
¹¹Department of Emergency Medicine, Yeouido St. Mary’s Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea
¹²Department of Emergency Medicine, Soonchunhyang University Seoul Hospital, Seoul, Korea
¹³Department of Emergency Medicine, Korea University Guro Hospital, Seoul, Korea
¹⁴Department of Emergency Medicine, Yeosu Jeonnam Hospital, Yeosu, Korea
¹⁵Department of Emergency Medicine, Hwahong Hospital, Suwon, Korea
¹⁶Department of Emergency Medicine, Gyeongsang National University Changwon Hospital, Changwon, Korea
¹⁷Department of Preventive Medicine, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Ulsan, Korea

Correspondence

Yoo Sang Yoon ,Tel: 051-890-6120, Fax: 051-891-1465, Email: 101mars@hanmail.net,

Received: October 14, 2021; Revised: November 9, 2021 Accepted: November 22, 2021. Published online: August 31, 2022.

ABSTRACT

Objective:
It has been reported that emergency physicians experience high levels of depression and psychological burnout due to night shifts and tend to consider early retirement. This study intended to check working hours and intensity, individual health, satisfaction, and overall welfare, given the increase in the numbers of emergency physicians.
Method:
The study used the results of the ‘2020 Korean Emergency Physician Survey (KEPS)’ conducted from January 15 to February 26, 2021, which targeted 2,138 emergency physicians registered with the Korean Society of Emergency Medicine. The survey was conducted online through the web and mobile application.
Results:
One thousand three hundred seven out of the 2,167 emergency physicians (60.3%) registered at the society responded. The average age of the respondents was 42.6 years, and there were 1,148 male emergency physicians and 158 female emergency physicians. The average professional experience was 8.2 years, with 325 professors, 122 commissioned doctors, 648 public servants of which 90 had military service, and 45 medical practitioners.
Conclusion:
In conclusion, the number of working hours of emergency physicians showed a decreasing trend compared to 2010 and 2015. However, emergency physicians often expected early retirement. This suggests that, while the absolute working hours are decreasing, the actual working intensity has not decreased. For the proper development of the emergency medical system, it is necessary to establish a stable working environment for emergency physicians. A systematic study is needed on the working hours and work intensity of emergency physicians.

Key words: Physicians; Burnout; Psychological; Workload