• Ayman S Alhasan, Shahad M Alahmadi, Yara A Altayeb, and Tareef S Daqqaq.
• Ayman S Alhasan, MBBS, DES. Department of Radiology, Assistant Professor and Consultant Radiologist, College of Medicine, Taibah University, Madinah, Saudi Arabia.
• Pak J Med Sci. 2022 Mar 1; 38 (3Part-I): 570-576.

ObjectivesThe primary purpose of this study was to assess and report the perceived negative impact of long duty hours on education and personal well-being among medical trainees in the diagnostic radiology residency training program in Saudi Arabia.MethodsThis cross-sectional study used a questionnaire (sent by email) with eight indicators related to the education and well-being of radiology residents in Saudi Arabia during the academic year 2019-2020. Participants were given a five-point Likert response format for each indicator. The relative importance index (RII) was calculated to rank the different indicators.ResultsOur of 337 residents, 116 diagnostic radiology trainees completed the survey, with a response rate of 34.4%. A total of 102 (87.9%) indicated their preference for 16-hour shifts instead of the currently implemented 24-hour duty system. Using the RII, three items related to the post-duty day ranked at the top of the list. The negative impact on sleep rhythm during the post-call day ranked first (mean 4.23 ± 1.02, RII 0.84), followed by the impact on social life, family activities, and exercise during the post-call day (mean 4.09 ± 1.06, RII 0.81). The third highest ranking factor was missing academic activities on the post-call day (mean 3.91 ± 1.15, RII 0.78). There was no relationship between negative perception and gender (P > 0.05).ConclusionThe 24-hour duty system had a negative impact on radiology residents' education and personal well-being, especially for items related to the post-call day. Reforming duty hours should be considered to promote residents' well-being.Copyright: © Pakistan Journal of Medical Sciences.

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