Occupational stress among doctors
Rukmini s.*
Vijaya U. Patil.**
Chandrakant Jamadar***
Assistant Professor, Dept of Psychology, Govt Home Science College, Hassan, *1
Assistant Professor, Dept of Home Science , Govt Home Science College, Hassan,*2
Assistant ProfessorP.G.Studies in Psychology,Maharani's Arts & Commerce women's college
Mysore *3
Occupational stress among doctors
abstract:
The aim of the present study was to study occupational stress among male and female doctors. The target groups of 60 doctors in Hassan district, Karnataka,were selected among them 30 male and 30 females. The random method was employed in the selection of the sample. The personal data were prepared by the investigator and occupational stress index by Srivastava and Singh (1974) were used to collect the data. Descriptive statistical analysis has been carried out in the present study. Results on continuous measurements are presented on Mean ± SD (Min-Max) and results on categorical measurements are presented in Number (%). Significance is assessed at 5 % level of significance. The result reveal that there is a strong significant relationship between male and female doctors (t=0.007) regarding the sub index under participation. But in all other sub index there was no significant relationship between male and female doctors.
Key words : occupational stress, Anxiety,depression,satisfication
INTRODUCTION
Occupational stress is a major hazard for many workers. Increased workloads, downsizing, overtime, hostile work environments, and
shift work are just a few of the many causes of stressful working conditions. This factsheet addresses some of the causes of workplace stress and solutions for change.
What is occupational stress?
The human body has a natural chemical response to a threat or demand, commonly known as the
"Flight or fight" reaction, which includes the release of adrenalin. Once the threat or demand is over the body can return to its natural state. A stressor is an event or set of conditions that causes a stress response. Stress is the body's physiological response to the stressor, and strain is the body's longer-term reaction to chronic stress.
Stress is the psychological and physical state that results when the resources of the individual are not sufficient to cope with the demands and pressure of the situation.1Level of job satisfaction and stress can affect both individuals and organization. At the individual level, low level of job satisfaction and high level of job stress are threat to mental and physical health, quality of life, goal achievement and personal development. Whereas, for the workplace these conditions lead to increased absenteeism, conflict and turnover, and reduced quality and quantity of work. Thus identification of factors responsible for stress and its management at its primary level has long term benefits both for employee and employer.
Job stress is a recognized problem in health care workers and doctors are considered to be at particular risk of stress and stress related psychosocial problems. Doctors have higher degree of psychological morbidity, suicidal tendencies and alcohol dependence than controls of comparable social class. Caplan reported that about half of senior medical staff suffers from high level of stress and a similar proportion suffers from anxiety. Similarly, Firth-Cozens found that half of the junior doctors in their pre-registration year were suffering from emotional disturbance. The delivery of high-quality medical care contributes to improved health outcomes. Doctor's job satisfaction affects quality of medical care's that he/she provides, patient's satisfaction with the doctor, patient's adherence to treatment and decreases doctor's turnover. Studies from West deduce that long working hours and over-work are important factors for job dissatisfaction and stress among doctors.
This study assessed the levels and association of occupational stress and depression rate among physicians, and to compare physicians' occupational stress with that of Taiwanese employees in other occupations. The subjects were physicians employed at 14 participating regional hospitals in the Around Taiwan Health Care Alliance. Self-administered questionnaires capturing data on demographics, occupational characteristics, occupational stress by Job Content Questionnaire (C-JCQ), and health status Taiwanese Depression Questionnaire (TDQ) were sent to eligible physicians. Results revealed that the depression rate (13.3%) was higher than that found in the general population (3.7%) of Taiwan. The mean scores of the JCQ dimensions "work demands" and "job control" were both much higher than those in most occupations in Taiwan. Higher depression scores were found in subjects with higher work demands, 8-10 d of being on duty per month, and more frequent alcohol consumption, while lower depression scores were found in subjects working in the east Taiwan area, with higher job control and with greater workplace social support. On the other hand, gender, smoking, and working hour were not independently correlated with depression, but the interaction of gender and job control also had an independent effect on depression. This study suggests that job stress plays an important role in depression in physicians; it is necessary to pay attention to physicians at high risk of depression, as well as their work environments, for early detection and intervention(Wang LJ, Chen CK, Hsu SC, 2010).
Srivastav and Urmila (2002) in a study on relationship of job and life stress to health outcomes among Indian managerial personnel examines the relationship between job and life stress and health outcomes of management personnel. A sample of 200 male mangers completed questionnaires covering occupational stress, life stress, psychosomatic health complaints data on blood pressure were also collected. Job stress was significantly related pathogenic health habits. As compared to job stress, life stress was found to be stronger than predictor of health outcomes.
Banerjee and Gupta (1996) worked on moderating effect of social support in occupational stress strain relationship between occupational stresses and strain among male and female occupants, 200 male and female occupants from four different occupations viz., Police officer, Advocates, Doctors and Clerks were selected on the basis of stratified random sampling method. 25 males and 25 females from each occupation were taken. It was assumed that social support can moderate the relationship between occupational stresses and strains. Multiple regression analysis was used to test moderating effect of social support by comparing the R values of high and low social support groups split at the quartile point. The result indicates that social support can moderate the relationships between occupational stresses and strains. But the findings of this study did not prove the relationships of social support and strain relations in the was expected to function.
Gellis (2002) worked on coping with occupational stress in healthcare and compared social workers and nurses job stress, job satisfaction and the use of three coping methods. Separate multiple regressions were completed for social workers and nurses to examine the relative influence of job stress and coping on job satisfaction. For both groups, perceived job stress was the greatest contributor to job satisfaction. Some methods of coping also were significantly related to job satisfaction; however, these differed between the two groups.
objectives:
- To study occupational stress among doctors.
- To study occupational stress among male and female doctors.
materials and methods:
The sample of present study was taken from doctors in Hassan district, Karnataka. The target groups of 60 doctors were selected among them 30 male and 30 females. The random method was employed in the selection of the sample. The respondents were given assurance of confidentiality.
tools:
Following tools were employed in the present study
- Personal data sheet
- The occupational stress index by Srivastava and Singh (1974)
Personal data sheet: the socio demographic data for the present research was elicited using this personal data sheet. The researcher prepared this schedule himself. This is detailed schedule, which consists of provision to collect data on age, sex, income etc.
Occupational stress Index
Occupational stress index standardized by Srivastava and Singh (1974) was administered to assess the level of stress among the doctors. This scale consists of 46 items, each to be rated on the five point rating scale, by indicating strongly disagree, disagree, undecided, agree, strongly agree. Out of 46 items, 28 items are true keyed and the rest 18 are false keyed. The items relate to almost all relevant components of the occupational life, which cause stress in some way or the other. Such as Role Over load, Role ambiguity, Role conflict, unreasonable group and political pressure, responsibility for persons, under participation, powerlessness, poor peer relations, intrinsic impoverishment, low status, strenuous working conditions and un profitability.
statistical methods:
Descriptive statistical analysis has been carried out in the present study. Results on continuous measurements are presented on Mean ± SD (Min-Max) and results on categorical measurements are presented in Number (%). Significance is assessed at 5 % level of significance. The following assumptions on data is made, Student t test (two tailed, independent) has been used to find the significance of study parameters on continuous scale between two groups.
Results and Discussion
The objectives of the present study are to find out the relationship of occupational stress among doctors and to study occupational stress among male and female doctors. The data obtained from 30 male and 30 females doctors to relevant statistical techniques to test the objectives formulated for the study. The results were presented in the Tables.
They are in the age group of 25 to 50 years. Table 1 shows that mean age of male is significantly less than the female doctors (34.48 vs 38.93 years) . The overall age of doctors studied is 36.63 years.
The duration of experience is 1 to > 20 years. Table 2 shows duration of experience is significantly more in females compared to males with P= 0.044*
Table3 shows the occupation stress among doctors (male & female). There is a strong significant relationship between male and female doctors (t=0.007) regarding the sub index under participation Rests of the scores are as follows in the role overload the score of male is (19.45±5.33) and female is (18.66±2.21). There is no significant relationship between male and female scores ( t= 0.458). In Role ambiguity the mean and SD of male and female is 13.26±1.55 & 13.31±2.25 respectively where the total score is 0.916 and there is no significant relationship between male and female doctors. In Role conflict the mean and SD of male and female doctors are 14.06±2.73 & 14.86±2.01 respectively where the total is 0.206. There is no significant relationship between male and female doctors. In Unreasonable group political pressure the mean and SD is 14.32±2.34 & 13.76±2.56 of male and female doctors and the total is 0.377. In Responsibility for persons the mean and SD the total is 0.594 in all these score there is no significant relationship between male and female doctors. But Under participation we can see a significant relationship between male and female doctors. Regarding Powerlessness of the doctors the male and female mean and SD is 9.68±1.74 & 10.07±1.33 respectively and the total is 0.334. The mean and SD of Poor peer relations is 10.94±2.37 & 10.17±1.91 respectively and the total is 0.176. The total 0.267 can be seen in Intrinsic impoverishment where the mean and SD is 11.55±1.69 (male), 12.17±2.56 (female). The felt the low status with the mean and SD score of 10.48±1.81 and 10.66±2.22 between male and female doctors and the total score is 0.744. They had the strenuous working conditions and the mean and SD of the doctors were male 13.55±2.20 and female 12.62±2.56 and the total is 0.137. The mean and SD is 7.58±1.89 & 7.62±2.64 of the male and female doctors with a total 0.946 were secured in Un profitability and both male and female doctors. Overall total score with a mean and SD is 145.81±10.48 & 146.52±8.50 respectively with 0.775 as total. But in all these series there was no significant relationship between male and female doctors.Even there is no significant occupational stress was observed among the subjects studied.
Age in years | Male | Female | Total | |||
No | % | No | % | No | % | |
25-30 | 9 | 29.1 | 5 | 17.2 | 14 | 23.3 |
31-40 | 16 | 54.8 | 14 | 44.8 | 30 | 50.0 |
41-50 | 4 | 12.9 | 10 | 34.5 | 14 | 23.3 |
>50 | 1 | 3.2 | 1 | 3.4 | 2 | 3.3 |
Total | 30 | 100.0 | 30 | 100.0 | 30 | 100.0 |
Mean+SD | 34.48+6.84 | 38.93+7.01 | 36.63+7.25 | |||
Table 1 : Age distribution of subjects studied.
Mean age of male is significantly less than the females ( 34.48 vs 38.93 years ) . The overall
Age of the doctors studied is 36.63 years.
Table 2 : Duration of experience
Duration of experience In years | Male (n=30) | Female (n=30) | Total (n=60) | |||
No | % | NO | % | No | % | |
1-5 | 13 | 41.9 | 5 | 17.2 | 18 | 30.0 |
6-10 | 12 | 40.9 | 12 | 40.9 | 24 | 40.0 |
11-20 | 4 | 12.9 | 13 | 44.8 | 17 | 28.3 |
>20 | 1 | 3.2 | 0 | 0.0 | 1 | 1.7 |
Mean+SD | 7.29+5.73 | 9.97+4.18 | 8.58+5.17 | |||
Duration of experience is significantly more in females compared to males with P= 0.044*
Table 3: Comparison of Occupation stress Index in males and females
Occupation Stress Index | Male | Female | Total |
Role overload | 19.45±5.33 | 18.66±2.21 | 0.458 |
Role ambiguity | 13.26±1.55 | 13.31±2.25 | 0.916 |
Role conflict | 14.06±2.73 | 14.86±2.01 | 0.206 |
Unreasonable group political pressure | 14.32±2.34 | 13.76±2.56 | 0.377 |
Responsibility for persons | 9.35±2.35 | 9.72±2.97 | 0.594 |
Under participation | 11.58±1.89 | 12.9±1.72 | 0.007** |
Powerlessness | 9.68±1.74 | 10.07±1.33 | 0.334 |
Poor peer relations | 10.94±2.37 | 10.17±1.91 | 0.176 |
Intrinsic impoverishment | 11.55±1.69 | 12.17±2.56 | 0.267 |
Low status | 10.48±1.81 | 10.66±2.22 | 0.744 |
Strenuous working conditions | 13.55±2.20 | 12.62±2.56 | 0.137 |
Un profitability | 7.58±1.89 | 7.62±2.64 | 0.946 |
Overall Total score | 145.81±10.48 | 146.52±8.50 | 0.775 |
There is a strong significant relationship between male and female doctors (t=0.007**) regarding the sub index under participation.
conclusion
It is incontrovertible that the medical prpfession is a challenging but stressful
occupation.It has been observed that doctors are prone to anxiety and depression, and to abuse alcohol(1). The quotidian stressors include tha intrinsic nature of job, work relationships and demands of career development.The article on stress management by Dr.Ken Ung is required
reading(4). But surprisingly in our study doctors are not in stress.May be because the organizational practices have changed dramatically, Govt now providing a dignified salary,
much more facilities & budget to work with ease and satisfaction.
References:
- Bernard Rosner (2000), Fundamentals of Biostatistics, 5th Edition, Duxbury, page 80-240
- Robert H Riffenburg (2005) , Statistics in Medicine , second edition, Academic press. 85-125.
- Sunder Rao P S S , Richard J : An Introduction to Biostatistics, A manual for students in health sciences , New Delhi: Prentice hall of India. 86-160
- John Eng (2003), Sample size estimation: How many Individuals Should be Studied? . Radiology 227: 309-313
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