Creating a "no blame" culture: have we got the balance right?
BMJ Quality & SafetyPublished 1 June 2004Open access
Merrilyn Walton
Citations55
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Abstract
N There is only a small complex relationship between hours of work and performance or mood.N Other factors such as team relationships, leadership, and job design may matter more.N Lack of sleep or disturbed sleep, in particular, leads to substantial decrements in performance.N Remedying the raft of factors is likely to improve both working lives and patient safety more than focusing simply on a shorter working week.
Keywords
Health Professions
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