There is surprisingly little research into the effect of physician motivation on patient outcomes. As a medical professional, I have certainly cared for patients when my motivation wasn’t completely in sync with providing the best care possible. Sadly, this is unavoidable.
I have seen patients at the end of a 30-hour shift when I was thinking about my bed almost as much as about my patient. I have cared for patients booked at the last minute for the end of the day, meaning I would be late to dinner with a friend, my stomach’s grumbling an unhelpful distraction. Do doctors other motivations, like the need for sleep, affect patient care?
