2863 Investigating the impact of self-rostering on EM trainee wellbeing and recovery: a national survey

<h3>Aims and Objectives</h3> The wellbeing of ED staff has been identified by RCEM as a priority area for research, and the 2022 GMC survey identified EM as the specialty with the highest burnout levels. There is currently little evidence on the impact of rota design on the wellbeing of ED staff, although RCEM published guidance on implementing self-rostering in 2019. The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of self-rostering on EM trainee wellbeing. <h3>Method and Design</h3> An online survey was distributed to UK EM trainees between Feb – May 2024, attached to the established EMTA survey. The survey included demographic data, closed Likert-scale questions regarding the impact of their rota on their wellbeing and training needs, and the Need For Recovery (NFR) scale, a validated measure of recovery between shifts with a maximum score of 100 indicating poor recovery. <h3>Results and Conclusion</h3> 224 participants (10% of all UK EM trainees) completed the survey, with representation from all grades, nations, and deaneries. 34.8% of respondents were self-rostered at the time of completing the survey. Self-rostered trainees had a significantly lower median NFR score at 63.6 compared to 81.8 for those on traditional rotas. (p = 0.03) Self-rostered participants also showed significant differences in median response to the Likert items. (Table 1) This study demonstrates that self-rostering is associated with improved wellbeing in UK EM trainees, with better access to leave, improved perception of the impact of their rotas on wellbeing, and improved rest between shifts. However, staff wellbeing has numerous drivers not investigated in this study, and the presence of self-rostering may well identify departments with a greater overall focus on trainee wellbeing. Further research is needed into the impact of variance in rota design on staff wellbeing, and subgroup analysis of this study is planned to identify the impact of self-rostering on different demographic groups.