Provision of on-call urology services in the UK: Its impact on lifestyle and well-being, and its relationship to stress.

Abstract

Introduction: On-call work is an integral part of urological practice in the United Kingdom, yet its effects on urologists’ lifestyles, well-being and stress remain underexplored. Identifying factors that contribute to this stress may help prolong careers and improve professional quality of life. Materials and Methods: An anonymised online survey of BAUS members assessed the impact of out-of-hours duties on lifestyle, well-being and stress. Variables included age, gender, hospital type, clinical experience, rota design and call frequency between midnight and 8 a.m. Lifestyle and well-being were measured using linear evaluation scales, while stress was assessed with a validated perceived stress scoring system. Results: Complete responses were obtained from 132 mid-grade urologists and 289 consultants engaged in on-call rotas. Overall, out-of-hours work moderately impaired quality of life. Lifestyle disruption increased with consultant age, whereas younger and less experienced colleagues reported higher stress, particularly related to childcare responsibilities and sleep deprivation. Conclusion: Although the impact of on-call work on UK urologists appears less severe than for other medical specialties, significant challenges persist. Ageing, childcare demands and sleep deprivation remain key stressors associated with out-of-hours activity, underscoring the need for strategies to support well-being across career stages.