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Shiromaru, M., Haruna, J., Makino, N., Uchida, H., Minagawa, Y., Kanda, N., Taguchi, Y., Tsugawa, H. and Momma, M. (2019) Condition of Difficulties for Emergency Nurses in a Rural City in Hokkaido. Sapporo Journal of Health Sciences, 8, 6-12.

has been cited by the following article:

• TITLE: Study of the Conditions Surrounding Fatigue That Are Common to Medical Professionals Working in Emergency and Critical Care Centers in Japan

  AUTHORS: Natsuko Makino

  KEYWORDS: Fatigue, Medical Professionals, Emergency and Critical Care Centers

  JOURNAL NAME: Health, Vol.12 No.1, January 9, 2020

  ABSTRACT: This study aimed to clarify the conditions surrounding fatigue that are common to medical professionals working in emergency and critical care centers in Japan. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with eight professionals ranging from doctors, nurses and pharmacists to clinical engineering technologists and radiation technologists. Their narratives were analyzed using the qualitative descriptive approach to determine fatigue common to all professionals and the reasons behind it. The five categories that emerged as the reasons for fatigue common to the subjects were [playing one’s role in treatment and procedures for emergency and critical patients], [accommodating the patient’s background and coming to terms with the outcome], [difficulties in liaising with other professionals], [feeling pressure as a responsible professional in emergency care] and [loss of sense of time caused by variable working hours]. The results revealed that fatigue common to all of the subjects was related to dealing with patients, coordinating with other professionals, having professional responsibilities and the working environment. This study suggests that arrangements to improve the working environment, ensure adequate staffing, and provide mental health support for the well-being of medical professionals working in emergency and critical care centers are necessary.