Evidence map›Paper›PMID 35333879›Full record

ArticlePloS one2022

Pathologist workload, work distribution and significant absences or departures at a regional hospital laboratory.

Michael Bonert, Uzma Zafar, Raymond Maung, Ihab El-Shinnawy, Asghar Naqvi, Christian Finley, Jean-Claude Cutz, Pierre Major, Anil Kapoor

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in PloS one, 2022. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 6 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
6citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

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.

2 · The registry

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.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

6 citing papers in PubMed.

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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors.

Michael BonertDivision of Anatomical Pathology, Department of Pathology and Molecular Medicine, Staff Pathologist-St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.ORCID 0000-0002-5049-0189
Uzma ZafarRutgers Health/St Barnabas Medical Center, Livingston, New Jersey, United States of America.
Raymond MaungDepartment of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Staff Pathologist-Royal Inland Hospital, University of British Columbia, Kamloops, British Columbia, Canada.
Ihab El-ShinnawyDivision of Anatomical Pathology, Department of Pathology and Molecular Medicine, Staff Pathologist-St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.
Asghar NaqviDivision of Anatomical Pathology, Department of Pathology and Molecular Medicine, Staff Pathologist-St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.
Christian FinleyDivision of Thoracic Surgery, Department of Surgery, Staff Thoracic Surgeon-St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.
Jean-Claude CutzDivision of Anatomical Pathology, Department of Pathology and Molecular Medicine, Staff Pathologist-St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.ORCID 0000-0001-7895-3467
Pierre MajorDivision of Medical Oncology, Department of Medicine, Staff Medical Oncologist-Hamilton Health Sciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.
Anil KapoorDivision of Urology, Department of Surgery, Staff Urologist-St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectiveAssess the work environment of salaried pathologists via (1) the national workload system (L4E), (2) work distribution among/in three hospital groups, and (3) the frequency of significant absences or departures (SADs).

methodsAutomated analysis of pathology reports from a regional laboratory (accessioned 2011-2019) using validated computer code.

resultsThe study set contained 574,099 pathology reports, reported by 63 pathologists. The average yearly L4E workload units/full-time equivalent for three hospital groups were 8,101.6, 6,906.5 and 4,215.8. The average Gini coefficient for full-time pathologists in the three hospital groups were respectively 0.05, 0.16 and 0.23. The average yearly SADs rates were respectively 13%, 16% and 9%. The group with the highest SADs rate had the intermediate Gini coefficient and intermediate workload.

conclusionsHigh individual workload and work maldistribution appear to be associated with SADs. Individual workload maximums and greater transparency may be essential for limiting staff turnover, maintaining high morale, and efficient laboratory function with a high quality of care.

Indexed as

Laboratories, HospitalHumansPathologistsPersonnel TurnoverWorkload

Identifiers

PMID35333879
PMCPMC8956155

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.