• Anne Marie Camilleri Podesta, Nancy Redfern, Igor Abramovich, Jannicke Mellin-Olsen, Krešimir Oremuš, Pinelopi Kouki, Emilia Guasch, Vesna Novak-Jankovic, Olegs Sabelnikovs, Federico Bilotta, and Ioana Grigoras.
• From the Department of Anaesthesia and Intensive Care, Mater Dei Hospital, Malta (AMCP), the Department of Anaesthesia, Newcastle upon Tyne NHS Foundation Trust, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK (NR), Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine (CCM/CVK), Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Germany (IA), the Department of Anaesthesia and Intensive Care Medicine, Baerum Hospital, Sandvika, Norway (JMO), the Department of Anaesthesiology, AKROMION Special Hospital for Orthopaedic Surgery, Ljudevita Gaja 2,49217 Krapinske Toplice, Croatia (KO), the 6 Department of Anaesthesia, General Hospital Nikaia, Piraeus, Greece (PK), the Department of Anaesthesia and Reanimation. Hospital Universitario La Paz, Madrid, Spain (EG), the Medical Simulation Centre, University Medical Centre Ljubljana, Slovenia (VNJ), the Department of Anaesthesiology and Reanimatology, Riga; Riga Stradins University, Latvia (OS), the Department of Anaesthesiology and Critical Care, Policlinico Umberto I Hospital, La Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy (FB), the Department of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care, Grigore T. Popa University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Iasi, Romania (IG).
• Eur J Anaesthesiol. 2024 Jan 1; 41 (1): 243324-33.

BackgroundAnaesthesiologists deliver an increasing amount of patient care and often work long hours in operating theatres and intensive care units, with frequent on-calls and insufficient rest in between. In the long term, this will negatively influence mental and physical health and well being. As fatigue becomes more prevalent, this has predictable implications for patient safety and clinical effectiveness. 1.ObjectiveThis study aimed to evaluate the prevalence, severity, causes and implications of work-related fatigue amongst specialist anaesthesiologists.DesignAn online survey of specialist anaesthesiologists.ParticipantsThe survey was sent to anaesthesiologists in 42 European countries by electronic mail.Main Outcome MeasuresResponses from a 36-item online survey assessed work-related fatigue and its impact on anaesthesiologists in European countries.ResultsWork-related fatigue was experienced in 91.6% of the 1508 respondents from 32 European countries. Fatigue was caused by their working patterns, clinical and nonclinical workloads, staffing issues and excessive work hours. Over 70% reported that work-related fatigue negatively impacted on their physical and mental health, emotional well being and safe commuting. Most respondents did not feel supported by their organisation to maintain good health and well being.ConclusionWork-related fatigue is a significant and widespread problem amongst anaesthesiologists. More education and increased awareness of fatigue and its adverse effects on patient safety, staff well being and physical and mental health are needed. Departments should ensure that their rotas and job plans comply with the European Working Time Directive (EWTD) and introduce a fatigue risk management system to mitigate the effects of fatigue.Copyright © 2023 European Society of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care. Unauthorized reproduction of this article is prohibited.

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