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Article History

Received: 25 May 2023

Accepted: 28 March 2024

First Online: 26 April 2024

Declarations

:

: During the time of our data collection, Dutch Law (Law medical-scientific research with human beings, identification number: BWBR000940) stipulates that research is required to be reviewed by an ethical review board if (I) research concerns medical scientific research that aims to answer questions pertaining so sickness and health (e.g., diagnosis, treatment, etiology) and (II) study participants were subjected to (behavioral) interventions or treatments. As our research concerned physicians’ sustainable employability, we were not interested in the onset, prevention or treatment of a disease or illness. Moreover, interviewed participants were not subjected to any treatment or intervention. As such, there was no requirement to apply for ethical review from the central (i.e., national) review board. In addition, at the time of data collection, our institution was in the process of implementing a system to ethically review all new data projects. Prior to this, research that did not fall under the Dutch medical-scientific research law was not assessed by an ethics committee. As our study had already commenced, the committee decided not to retrospectively review our research, as we would be unable to adopt any proposed recommendations. In the absence of a formal ethics review, we ensured that our research and methods were carried out in accordance with relevant guidelines and regulations, such as the Dutch Code of Conduct for Research Integrity (2018). Informed consent was obtained from all subjects.

: Not applicable.

: IV is a social scientist with a master’s degree in Learning & Development and Occupational Health and Safety. IG is a general surgeon also employed as an assistant professor on safety in healthcare. IL is a nonpracticing physician with an extensive background in patient safety and regulation. JW is a health services researcher with a background in professional performance and quality and safety of healthcare.

: The authors declare no competing interests.