What could make a difference to the mental health of UK doctors?
A review of the research evidence
Doctors are at considerable risk of work-related stress, burnout and mental health problems such as depression and anxiety. The risk is greater than that of the general working population and is increasing over time in line with the growing demands and complexity of the job, a faster pace of work and diminishing resources.
The risk of suicide, especially among general practitioners, psychiatrists and trainees, and among women, is high compared to the general population.
General practitioners are more vulnerable to burnout (particularly emotional exhaustion), work-related stress and common mental health problems than doctors in most other specialities. This has been linked to the increased demands placed on primary care along with diminishing financial and staffing resources.
Trainee and junior doctors are also at particular risk of mental health problems. Of particular concern is the evidence that many doctors are experiencing symptoms of burnout and distress so early in their career.
Vejam abaixo as mensagens chaves da publicação
- Doctors are at considerable risk of work-related stress, burnout and mental health problems such as depression and anxiety. The risk is greater than that of the general working population and is increasing over time in line with the growing demands and complexity of the job, a faster pace of work and diminishing resources.
•The risk of suicide, especially among general practitioners, psychiatrists and trainees, and among women, is high compared to the general population.
• General practitioners are more vulnerable to burnout (particularly emotional exhaustion), work-related stress and common mental health problems than doctors in most other specialities. This has been linked to the increased demands placed on primary care along with diminishing financial and staffing resources.
• Trainee and junior doctors are also at particular risk of mental health problems. Of particular concern is the evidence that many doctors are experiencing symptoms of burnout and distress so early in their career.
• Levels of sickness absence and presenteeism are particularly high among doctors. Doctors work while sick for several reasons such as short-staffing, feelings of responsibility to their patients, fear of letting colleagues down, the need to present a ‘healthy’ image at work and concerns for their future career prospects. Working while unwell can have serious implications for the wellbeing of doctors and for patient safety.
• Several factors related to the occupation, the organisation and the individual appear to increase the risk of mental health problems in doctors. The most common causes are high perceived workload, the growing intensity and complexity of the work, rapid change within healthcare, low control and support and personal experiences of bullying and harassment.
•
Conflict between work and personal life is a key risk factor for mental health problems in
doctors, especially among GPs. Adequate opportunities to recover from the job mentally as
well as physically are vital to ensure health and optimum job performance. A poor work-life
balance will also reduce the opportunity for doctors to spend time with family and friends
and engage in other activities that replenish their resources.
• There is also evidence that current working conditions and associated health problems contribute to the poor retention and turnover rates in the medical workforce in the UK, especially among GPs.
• Current working conditions and associated mental health problems also have major implications for patient outcomes and the financial performance of healthcare organisations, but more research is needed.
•
The stigma associated with mental health problems and a perceived “failure to cope” mean
that many doctors are reluctant to disclose such problems for fear of sanctions and job loss.
• The poor mental health evident in UK doctors should be of grave concern to the various stakeholders in the healthcare sector and action is urgently required. More support is urgently needed to help improve the mental health of UK doctors from recruitment to retirement. The support that is available should be communicated more effectively and its uptake encouraged.
• Interventions to improve the mental health of doctors in the UK need to not only focus on interventions that help the individual doctor cope with their work environment (i.e. secondary interventions) or treat those already struggling (i.e. tertiary interventions). Instead, there also needs to be greater awareness of the impact that the underlying working conditions have on the mental health of doctors. Appropriate interventions should aim to eliminate or reduce the exposure to such poor working conditions (i.e. primary interventions).
•
Some interventions that are currently available in many healthcare settings in the UK, such as Schwartz Rounds®, can be effective in protecting the mental health of practitioners and improving their engagement. Other methods that have been used effectively with groups of doctors in other countries, such as job crafting and employee participation approaches, should be evaluated in the UK.
•
Support in the workplace is crucial in alleviating the work demands placed on doctors, and to provide them with the emotional support to cope with what is a demanding job role. This support is also pivotal in reinforcing a culture that encourages help-seeking and challenges the mental health stigma. Processes which encourage better support at work, such as mentoring and effective team working, need to be facilitated.
•
More prospective longitudinal studies are urgently needed to assess the mental health of doctors over time and provide insight into the occupational, organisational and individual factors that contribute to positive wellbeing as well as distress.
• It is vital to build a culture within medicine that explicitly recognises how the job can impact on the wellbeing of doctors and promotes mental health and self-care. This should start from the first year of medical school, with the Deaneries, Trusts and Royal Colleges being responsible for developing and communicating evidence-informed initiatives and sharing best practice.
•
Although this report focuses on the issues facing doctors, it is important to highlight that many others share the same working environment, and therefore face similar issues and risks to their mental health.
- Efetue login ou registre-se para postar comentários
