Time Management and Time Utilization for Urology Surgeons, a Step in Implementing Social Responsibility, a Theoretical and a Practical Approach

A time study was performed on surgeons because is an important tool in the delivery of any intervention. Little is known about how surgeons time is allocated. The research question is: is time management a social responsibility? The objective is the analysis of the distribution of time of surgeons from Urology Department, from CDCUM Hospital A self-reporting work was used for a period of one month. The research uses a descriptive method. Quantitative direct observational time study and self-reported diary were performed, for both office hours and after hours. We choose urology surgeons, because in Romania their number is limited and therefore there is a high volume of work. Using a time-motion study technique, the workdays were documented on activities developed, by using direct observation method. A total of 3136 h of work time were collected. Surgeons spent most of their work time in interventions, but also on direct patient care and teaching activities. A statistical analyze was performed to estimate the proportion of work time of surgeons. Blyth Still Casella confidence intervals and Agresti Min confidence intervals were estimated because we obtained differences between subgroups. Results provided a basis for future research on time management, to increase the efficiency and productivity, to ensure a work-life balance and to calculate the cost of health care interventions. Future research may take into consideration a comparison with other specializations. By improving time management we can increase physicians productivity and also personal and professional satisfaction, that could be a step in implementing social responsibility.