Observational studyBMC health services research2014
Hospital physicians perform five types of work duties in Japan: an observational study.
Observational study in BMC health services research, 2014. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 5 papers.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
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Who cites it
5 citing papers in PubMed.
- Variations in the perceived value of anti-SARS-CoV-2 therapeutics based on physicians' clinical backgrounds.Scientific reports · 2026Article
- Potential of Artificial Intelligence in Addressing Japan's Clinical Research Disconnection.JMA journal · 2025Article
- Working hours of full-time hospital physicians in Japan: a cross-sectional nationwide survey.BMC public health · 2024Article
- A time motion study of community mental health workers in rural India.BMC health services research · 2019Article
- Time motion study using mixed methods to assess service delivery by frontline health workers from South India: methods.Human resources for health · 2018Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
4 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundPhysicians are expected to perform three unique roles as a clinician, educator, and researcher in university hospitals. However, the actual practices of physicians performing different duties are relatively unknown. Therefore, the authors conducted an observational study at a university hospital to examine physicians' work activities.
methodsBetween 2011 and 2013, ten observers shadowed 20 physicians from different specialties for a day at the Tokyo Women's Medical University Hospital. Observers recorded physicians' activities every 30 seconds that were subsequently categorized into work types. The number of work types and activity changes performed by a physician in one observational period were counted.
resultsAuthors categorized physicians' work activities into five groups: patient care (direct and indirect), education, research, professional development, and administration. All physicians performed at least one type of activity in addition to patient care. Activity change occurred 1.86 times per hour, on average. The median time-distribution of 20 physicians was 173.8 minutes, 213.8 minutes, 3.3 minutes, 5.0 minutes, 0 minutes, and 0.8 minutes for direct patient care, indirect patient care, education, research, professional development, and administration, respectively.
conclusionJapanese hospital physicians performed multiple work duties including professional development and administrative activities in addition to triple duties.
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Registered trials
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