Practise what you preach: health behaviours and stress among non-consultant hospital doctors.
High rates of psychological distress, depression and suicide have been reported among doctors. Furthermore, many doctors do not access healthcare by conventional means. This study aimed to increase understanding regarding non-consultant hospital doctors' (NCHDs') response to stress and barriers to accessing supports, and identify possible solutions. Medical manpower departments in 58 hospitals distributed a 25-item questionnaire to 4,074 NCHDs; we received 707 responses (response rate, 17.4%). 60% of NCHDs were unable to take time off work when unwell; 'letting teammates down' (90.8%) and 'difficulty covering call' (85.9%) were the leading reasons. 'Being too busy' (85%), 'self-prescription' (66.6%) and 'self-management' (53.1%) were ranked highest in deterring NCHDs from visiting a general practitioner (GP). 22.9% of NCHDs would not attend a GP with anxiety or depression until they began to feel hopeless, helpless or suicidal. 12.2% would not seek help at all. 55% of respondents (n = 330) had to move away from partners or dependants due to work, negatively affecting the social supports of 82.9%. Possible practical solutions were explored. NCHDS are a vulnerable population and have a particularly challenging lifestyle. Key recommendations include improved GP and counselling access for NCHDs, and addressing the culture of self-treatment and poor health behaviours through undergraduate and postgraduate education.
['Feeney|Sinéad|S|', "O'Brien|Kevin|K|", "O'Keeffe|Neasa|N|", 'Iomaire|Anna Nic Con|AN|', 'Kelly|Maureen E|ME|', 'McCormack|John|J|', 'McGuire|Genevieve|G|', 'Evans|David S|DS|']
D000293:Adolescent D000328:Adult D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel D002055:Burnout, Professional D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies D005260:Female D015438:Health Behavior D006801:Humans D008297:Male D008505:Medical Staff, Hospital D008875:Middle Aged D010820:Physicians D013312:Stress, Physiological D013315:Stress, Psychological D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires D055815:Young Adult
stress solutions Burnout doctors’ health wellbeing