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TL;DR
A cross-sectional survey of UK gastroenterology and hepatology physicians found that the COVID-19 pandemic increased workload, reduced well-being, and heightened intentions for early retirement and flexible working.
Frontline Gastroenterology · 11 authors, 12 centres
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A cross-sectional survey of UK gastroenterology and hepatology physicians found that the COVID-19 pandemic increased workload, reduced well-being, and heightened intentions for early retirement and flexible working.
This study was a cross-sectional survey of UK gastroenterology and hepatology physicians and trainees conducted between August and October 2021. The survey assessed the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and its recovery phase on workload, well-being, and workforce retention. Key findings include that 43.8% of respondents reported a regular increase in out-of-hours working, which disproportionately affected newly appointed consultants, full-time workers, and those who contracted COVID-19. Furthermore, 92% believed the workforce was inadequate to manage the service backlog, and 54.3% of consultants planned to retire early. The study had a response rate of 28.8% from opened emails, and multivariable analyses identified factors associated with early retirement, such as male gender, feeling isolated, and increased anxiety over the service backlog. Limitations include a low overall response rate and potential selection bias. The findings suggest the pandemic has placed a significant burden on work-life balance and workforce retention, highlighting the need for future workforce planning to address flexible working and early retirement aspirations.