
READ ME File For 'Phase 1 Survey Data'

Dataset DOI: https://doi.org/10.5258/SOTON/D2977

ReadMe Author: AIMEE O'NEILL, University of Southampton ORCID ID 

This dataset supports the thesis entitled "Exploring Intrawork Break Taking in Doctors Before and During the Covid-19 Pandemic"
AWARDED BY: Univeristy of Southampton
DATE OF AWARD: 2024

DESCRIPTION OF THE DATA
To explore doctors break-taking practice, the common facilitators and barriers to break taking, and the perceived importance of breaks to doctors, 
a cross-sectional survey was undertaken with consultants and doctors in training (N=250), prior to the Covid-19 pandemic, in three different NHS trusts in Hampshire: 
University Hospital Southampton (UHS) NHS Foundation Trust, Southern Health NHS Foundation Trust, and Solent NHS Trust. 
Four questions were posed by the survey: 
1) the self-perceived effect of breaks on doctors’ wellbeing – breaks were rated as important to doctors’ wellbeing, unimportant, or undecided as to the effect; 
2) the prevalence or frequency of break taking in a normal working day – participants selected how often they were unable to take breaks on average; 
3) hindrances to break taking – participants selected the factors they felt negatively impacted their break-taking ability and could add to the optional “other” category; and 
4) possible facilitators for breaks – a list of factors that could potentially encourage breaks ranked as “more likely to encourage breaks”, “less likely”, or “no effect”, 
as well as the option to add to the “other” category.
The survey was administered to doctors attending induction events, trainee teaching sessions, and various clinical team meetings at the three NHS trusts between 6 September 2019 and 8 March 2020. 
Upon arrival, attendees were given an explanation of the research and provided with participant packs. 
Attendees could opt to complete the survey in the 15 minutes prior to the session or engage in free time. 
Participant packs included a participant information sheet, consent form, case report form, demographics data questionnaire and the survey questions. 
Individuals who were interested in participating but unable to complete the survey in person were sent a link to an online version through the iSurvey platform. 
An electronic version of the participant information sheet was presented followed by the electronic consent form and a tick-box to confirm consent. 
An ethics application for the broader mixed method study was approved by the University of Southampton Research Ethics Committee (ERGO number 49247). 
As the research was conducted among NHS staff during the context of a working day, approval was also obtained from the Health Research Authority (IRAS number 266831). 
To ensure participant confidentiality, all electronic data was pseudo-anonymised and the decryption file was password protected. 
Any hard copies of the data were stored in a secure filing cabinet in a limited-access office and demographic data were stored separately from survey answers. 

The sample comprised 250 doctors of all grades, with the majority (78%) recruited from University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust, 
14% recruited from Solent NHS Trust, 4% from Southern Health NHS Foundation Trust, and 4% of participants completed the survey online. 

All survey data were entered into Microsoft Excel with each row representing a participant and columns representing outcome variables. 
Associated meta-data is listed for each variable/column below. 

This dataset contains:
Anonymised data for each participant on the following variables:

Variable 1 (Column A): Participant ID 
The first 3 digits of the participant identifier informs the reader of the location of data collection as follows: 
100 - iSurvey (online survey participants – could be doctors from UHS or Solent and completed in any setting of their choice)	
200 - University Hospital Southampton (UHS) NHS Foundation Trust face-to-face meeting. Survey completed with pen and paper.	
300 - Southern Health NHS Foundation Trust face-to-face meeting. Survey completed with pen and paper.	
400 - Solent NHS Trust face-to-face meeting. Survey completed with pen and paper.

Variable 2 (Column B): Date survey was completed in DD.MM.YY format 

Variable 3 (Column C): Consent given to participate 
0=No
1=Yes 
999=Missing data

Variable 4 (Column D): Whether participants consented to a follow-up interview 
0=No
1=Yes 
999=Missing data

Variable 5 (Column E): Confirmation that participant is a doctor 
0=No
1=Yes 
999=Missing data

Variable 6 (Column F): Role or grade 
1=Foundation trainee
2=Core trainee	
3=Speciality trainee	
4=Registrar	
5=Speciality, associate specialist
6=Consultant
7=F3
8=Locum

Varaible 7 (Column G): Specialty 
1=Geriatric
2=Emergency
3=Obstetrics and gynaecology
4=Radiology
5=Paediatrics
6=Anaesthetics
7=Respiratory
8=Trauma and orthopaedics
9=Hepatobiliary surgery
10=Psychiatry
11=Acute medicine
12=Oncology
13=General internal medicine
14=Urology
15=Colorectal surgery
16=Hepatology
17=Acute surgery
18=Vascular surgery
19=Stroke Medicine
20=Ear Nose and Throat
21=Academic
22=Intensive Medicine
23=Gastroenterology
24=Cardiology
25=General Practice
26=Maxilofacial 
27=Cardiothoracic surgery
28=Neurology
29=Haematology
30=Neonatology
31=Opthalmology
32=Clinical Genetics
33=Nephrology
34=Neurosurgery 
35=General Surgery 

Variable 8 (Column H): Secondary specialty - if a doctor listed more than one specialty  
Coded as above in variable 7 ("Specialty")

Variable 9 (Column I): Age in years 

Variable 10 (Column J): Gender 
0=Male 
1=Female
2=Prefer not to say
999=Missing data

Variable 11 (Column K): Ethnicity 
1=English/Welsh/Scottish/Northern Irish/British
2=Irish
3=Gypsy or Irish Traveller
4=Any other White background 
5=White and Black Caribbean
6=White and Black African
7=White and Asian
8=Any other Mixed/Multiple ethnic background 
9=Indian 
10=Pakistani
11=Bangladeshi
12=Chinese
13=Any other Asian background	
14=Black/ African/Caribbean/Black British
15=African	
16=Caribbean	
17=Any other Black/African/Caribbean background
18=Arab
19=Prefer not to say
999=Missing data

Variable 12 (Column L): Religion 
0=No religion	
1=Christian (including Church of England, Catholic, Protestant and all other Christian denominations)
2=Buddhist
3=Hindu	
4=Jewish	
5=Muslim	
6=Sikh	
7=Prefer not to say	
8=Shinto	
999=Missing data

Columns M to T (Variables 13-20 below) contain answers to the question, "Have the following ever been a factor in you missing your breaks? (Tick any that apply and put a star next to those you think are most important)"

Variable 13 (Column M): Workload 
0=Blank
1=Tick
2=Star

Variable 14 (Column N): Staffing levels 
0=Blank
1=Tick
2=Star

Variable 15(Column O): Expectations from others to keep working 
0=Blank
1=Tick
2=Star

Variable 16 (Column P): Pressure on self to keep working 
0=Blank
1=Tick
2=Star

Variable 17 (Column Q): Lack of break facilities/infrastructure 
0=Blank
1=Tick
2=Star

Variable 18 (Column R): Interruption during breaks (e.g. bleeps, colleagues) 
0=Blank
1=Tick
2=Star 

Variable 19 (Column S): Breaks are not restful (e.g. rumination on to-do list during breaks) 
0=Blank
1=Tick
2=Star

Variable 20 (Column T): Other 
Optional textual comments
0=No comments

Variables 21-31 below (Columns U to AE) contain answers to the question, "Please read the statements below and rate whether you would be more likely or less likely to take a break given each scenario"

Variable 21 (Column U): Have some tasks completed by other types of staff (e.g. doctors administrators) 
1=More likely
2=Less likely
3=No difference

Variable 22 (Column V): Having someone who is able to cover my tasks
1=More likely
2=Less likely
3=No difference

Variable 23 (Column W): Improve rest facilities/infrastructure (e.g. improve locations/quality of doctors mess)
1=More likely
2=Less likely
3=No difference

Variable 24 (Column X): Team building (e.g. to foster trust in other members of team so I feel confident my work will be completely covered in my absence)
1=More likely
2=Less likely
3=No difference

Variable 25 (Column Y): Encouragement from seniors to take breaks
1=More likely
2=Less likely
3=No difference

Variable 26 (Column Z): Make break-taking mandatory
1=More likely
2=Less likely
3=No difference

Variable 27 (Column AA): Offer break activities/distractor/interrupting activity (e.g. therapy dog visit, 5-minutes of mindfulness, sensory pods)
1=More likely
2=Less likely
3=No difference

Variable 28 (Column AB): Understanding how self-care impacts patient outcomes
1=More likely
2=Less likely
3=No difference

Variable 29 (Column AC): Campaigns/posters/visible reminders across  hospital about the importance of taking breaks in the workplace
1=More likely
2=Less likely
3=No difference

Variable 30 (Column AD): Handing over bleep when going on break 
1=More likely
2=Less likely
3=No difference

Variable 31 (Column AE): 0ther 
Optional textual comments
0=No comment

Variable 32 (Column AF): How often do you miss your breaks/rest periods? (How often are you unable to take your breaks?)
1=Daily	
2=Every second day	
3=Twice a week	
4=Weekly	
5=Fortnightly	
6=Monthly	
7=Never	

Variable 33 (Column AG): Do you think taking breaks during shifts is important to your wellbeing?
0=No
1=Yes
2=Undecided	


Variable 34 (column AH): Any furhter comments (e.g. written on back or side of paper)


Date of data collection: 
Data collection took place between 6 September 2019 to 8 March 2020. 
Each row in the spreadsheet represents a participant. Column B shows the date each individual completed the survey. 


Information about geographic location of data collection: 
Each individual participant has a unique participant identifier. The first 3 digits of the identifier informs the reader of the location of data collection as follows: 

100 - iSurvey (online survey participants – could be doctors from UHS or Solent and completed in any setting of their choice)	
200 - University Hospital Southampton (UHS) NHS Foundation Trust face-to-face meeting. Survey completed with pen and paper.	
300 - Southern Health NHS Foundation Trust face-to-face meeting. Survey completed with pen and paper.	
400 - Solent NHS Trust face-to-face meeting. Survey completed with pen and paper.

Licence:
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Funders: Health Education England (Wessex) and University of Southampton

Date that the file was created: February, 2024

