Stress & Risk Factors

There has been plenty of discussion and writing about the need for doctors to be conscious of their own health and wellness. Here is a selection of points to consider, followed by some articles.

Sources of stress

  • Registrars often juggle work and family commitments with study and exam preparation.

  • Compulsory training requirements create frequent moves often leaving family behind.

  • GP registrars from overseas can face cultural and social isolation, further assessment and training and be affected by the 10 year moratorium on provider numbers.

  • Medicine is more than a ‘9-to-5’ job, with long hours, weekend work and on-call the norm.

  • Doctors tend to be perfectionists and our selection and training encourages us to be conscientious, reluctant to delegate and unwilling to take time off when unwell.

  • Greater organizational, financial and legal pressures on medical professionals.

Risk factors

  • Less than a quarter of general practitioners seek professional medical advice for their own health problems.

  • Most have prescribed medication for themselves at some time.

  • Medical practitioners have higher rates of depression, substance abuse, car accidents, suicide and marital discord than the general community.

  • Burnout is an issue in the medical community – a 1998 study showed 53% of Australian GP’s had considered leaving general practice because of stress.

Background material

Schattner PL Coman GJ The stress of metropolitan general practice MJA 1998; 169: 133-137

Kilmartin MR, Newell CJ Line MA The balancing act: key issues in the lives of women general practitioners in Australia MJA 2002 177 (2): 87-89 

Lake FR, Ryan G Teaching on the run tips 11: the junior doctor in difficulty MJA 2005; 183 (9): 475-476 

Fiona R Lake and Gerard Ryan. Teaching on the run tips 13: being a good supervisor — preventing problems Med J Aust 2006; 184 (8): 414-415. [Teaching on the Run]<http://www.mja.com.au/public/issues/184_08_170406/lak10081_fm.html>

Shadbolt NE Attitudes to healthcare and self-care among junior medical officers: a preliminary report MJA 2002 177 (1 Suppl): S19-S20

Willcock SM, Daly MG, Tennant CC, Allard BJ Burnout and psychiatric morbidity in new medical graduates MJA 2004; 181 (7): 357-360

Clode, D. (2004) The Conspiracy of Silence: Emotional health among medical practitioners, Royal Australian College of General Practitioners, South Melbourne. 

Riley GJ Understanding the stresses and strains of being a doctor MJA 2004; 181 (7): 350-353 

Schattner P, Davidson S,Serry N Doctors’ health and wellbeing: taking up the challenge in Australia MJA 2004; 181 (7): 348-349 

Some of the articles above appeared in the October 4th 2004 issue of the MJA [http://www.mja.com.au/public/issues/181_07_041004/contents_041004.html] which was devoted to issues concerning doctors' health. Others in this issue may also interest you.

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