Third of hospital doctors distressed
Another third have less than optimal mental health, with just 34% displaying no evidence of mental ill health, according to the national study of hospital doctors.
The report, published by the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, examined how 1,750 hospital doctors, including consultants, senior house officers, and junior doctors feel about their work.
It found a prevalence of psychological distress, and low levels of wellbeing, among medical staff, with 52% of all doctors reporting burnout or emotional exhaustion.
Consultants and trainees who reported negative experience of work have high levels of emotional exhaustion, over-commitment, and effort-reward imbalance.
They are also more likely to be physically inactive than more contented colleagues. Probable mental ill-health was highest among junior doctors, with over 42% displaying psychological stress.
The report’s author, Dr Blánaid Hayes, a consultant occupational physician at Beaumont Hospital, said psychological stress levels among hospital doctors were nearly three times that of the general population.
“The prevalence in trainee doctors is a cause for grave concern,” said Dr Hayes, who is also dean-elect of the faculty of occupational medicine at the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland.
The research also found that 7% were classified as having severe depression, 6% had severe anxiety, and one in 10 suffered severe stress.
The study, the first major one of the mental health and wellbeing of hospital doctors in Ireland, found t hospital doctors work on average 57 hours per week, ranging from just over 54 for consultants to 61 for senior house officers.
Three fifths of doctors surveyed say their work situation does not leave them enough time for their family or personal life. Only one fifth exercise sufficiently for it to be beneficial for their health, while a quarter are inactive.
One in 10 doctors admit to binge-drinking whenever they consume alcohol, while three in 10 engage in hazardous drinking patterns. One in 10 also smoke, although many are not daily smokers.
Although 41% of doctors report their overall quality of life as very good or excellent, 15% describe it as fair and 4% say it is poor.
Dr Hayes said the study found that senior doctors and trainee doctors were concerned about issues impacting on the quality of patient care, as well as the inadequacy of resources, and feel undervalued in the work they do.
She said a sense of duty among doctors meant they were reluctant to burden already busy colleagues by taking time off when they were ill.
The study also indicated some disillusionment among doctors with their chosen career, as the desire to practice medicine had declined for three out of five doctors since they graduated.
Nevertheless, 71% still had a strong desire to continue to work in the medical profession.
