Table 1 Hospital-specific single items capturing psychosocial working conditions of physicians (response scales)

   During the last 12 months, did you take part in a vocational training? (no; yes, internal training; yes, external training)

   Who paid your last vocational training? (my superior/employer, I myself, independent sponsors, e.g. industry, research fonds, etc.)

   Was it made possible for you to change your duty for vocational training in the past? (no; yes, partly; yes, completely)

support at work

   Does your superior acknowledge the efforts and results of your work? (always, often, sometimes, seldom, never/hardly never, I have no superior/no colleagues)

   Do your colleagues acknowledge the efforts and results of your work? (always, often, sometimes, seldom, never/hardly never, I have no superior/no colleagues)

   How often do you experience competitive pressure among your colleagues? (always, often, sometimes, seldom, never/almost never, I have no superior/no colleagues)

time devoted to a role

   If you worked overtime, would you report it to your superior? (no, partly, yes)

   How often was the duty roster changed on short-notice (i.e., within 1 to 3 days) during the last 3 months? (never, around once/twice a month, around once a week, several times a week)

   If the duty roster was changed on short-notice, how often did you have to work on a day off? (never, less than once a month, more often than once a month)

   If the duty roster was changed on short-notice, how often did you have to work on a weekend off? (never, less than once a month, more often than once a month)

   If the duty roster was changed on short-notice, how often were your family/personal preferences ignored? (never, less than once a month, more often than once a month)

   If the duty roster was changed on short-notice, how often did you have to continue working after your duty? (never, less than once a month, more often than once a month)

   If the duty roster was changed on short-notice, how often did you have to postpone a planned vacation? (never, less than once in 6 months, more often than once in 6 months)

   In the case of a changed duty roster on short-notice, how stressful was it for you to work on a day off? (not at all stressful, a bit stressful, very stressful)

   In the case of a changed duty roster on short-notice, how stressful was it for you to work on a weekend off? (not at all stressful, a bit stressful, very stressful)

   In the case of a changed duty roster on short-notice, how stressful was it for you when family/personal preferences were ignored? (not at all stressful, a bit stressful, very stressful)

   In the case of a changed duty roster on short-notice, how stressful was it for you to continue working after your duty? (not at all stressful, a bit stressful, very stressful)

   In the case of a changed duty roster on short-notice, how stressful was it for you to postpone a planned vacation? (not at all stressful, a bit stressful, very stressful)

   What do you think are the most likely reasons for short-notice changes of the duty roster? (responsibility for too many patients, mismanagement in duty roster planning, personnel shortage, colleagues on parental leave, colleagues on vacation, colleagues on sick leave)

communication

   How often were team meetings (with colleagues and superiors) used as a platform to discuss criticism and improvement strategies? (never; less than once a month; more often than once a month)

outcomes

   During the last 12 months, how often did you go to work despite own illness? (× times)