Skip to main content
Key Specialties
Cardiology Diabetology Endocrinology Gastroenterology Geriatrics and Gerontology Gynecology and Obstetrics Hematology Infectious Disease Internal Medicine Nephrology Neurology Oncology Pediatrics Respiratory Medicine Rheumatology Surgery
Congress Coverage
2024 ACC Congress 2023 ESMO Congress 2023 EASD Congress 2023 ERS Congress 2023 ESC Congress
Clinical Collections
Advances in Alzheimer’s

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

LIVE: Thursday 27th June 2024, 18:00-19:30 (CEST)
Join our expert panel to discover why you need to understand the drivers of non-adherence in your patients, and how you can optimize medication adherence in your clinics to drastically improve patient outcomes.
ADVANCED SEARCH
Log in
Top
BMC Health Services Research
Published in: BMC Health Services Research 1/2005

Open Access 01-12-2005 | Research article

The factors associated to psychosocial stress among general practitioners in Lithuania. Cross-sectional study

Authors: Giedrius Vanagas, Susanna Bihari-Axelsson

Published in: BMC Health Services Research | Issue 1/2005

Login to get access

Abstract

Background

There are number of studies showing that general practice is one of the most stressful workplace among health care workers. Since Baltic States regained independence in 1990, the reform of the health care system took place in which new role and more responsibilities were allocated to general practitioners' in Lithuania. This study aimed to explore the psychosocial stress level among Lithuanian general practitioner's and examine the relationship between psychosocial stress and work characteristics.

Methods

The cross-sectional study of 300 Lithuanian General practitioners. Psychosocial stress was investigated with a questionnaire based on the Reeder scale. Job demands were investigated with the R. Karasek scale. The analysis included descriptive statistics; interrelationship analysis between characteristics and multivariate logistic regression to estimate odds ratios for each of the independent variables in the model.

Results

Response rate 66% (N = 197). Our study highlighted highest prevalence of psychosocial stress among widowed, single and female general practitioners. Lowest prevalence of psychosocial stress was among males and older age general practitioners. Psychosocial stress occurs when job demands are high and job decision latitude is low (χ2 = 18,9; p < 0,01). The multivariate analysis shows that high job demands (OR 4,128; CI 2,102–8,104; p < 0,001), patient load more than 18 patients per day (OR 5,863; CI 1,549–22,188; p < 0,01) and young age of GP's (OR 6,874; CI 1,292–36,582; p < 0,05) can be assigned as significant predictors for psychosocial stress.

Conclusion

One half of respondents suffering from work related psychosocial stress. High psychological workload demands combined with low decision latitude has the greatest impact to stress caseness among GP's. High job demands, high patient load and young age of GP's can be assigned as significant predictors of psychosocial stress among GP's.
Appendix
Available only for authorised users
Literature
1.
European observatory on health care systems.: Health care systems in transition. Lithuania. 2000, Copenhagen, World health organization
2.
Dowell AC, Westcott T, McLeod DK, Hamilton S: A survey of job satisfaction, sources of stress and psychological symptoms among New Zealand health professionals. N Z Med J. 2001, 114: 540-543.PubMed
3.
Firth-Cozens J: Individual and organizational predictors of depression in general practitioners. Br J Gen Pract. 1998, 48: 1647-1651.PubMedPubMedCentral
4.
Iversen L, Farmer JC, Hannaford PC: Workload pressures in rural general practice: a qualitative investigation. Scand J Prim Health Care. 2002, 20: 139-144. 10.1080/028134302760234573.CrossRefPubMed
5.
Sibbald B, Bojke C, Gravelle H: National survey of job satisfaction and retirement intentions among general practitioners in England. BMJ. 2003, 326: 22-10.1136/bmj.326.7379.22.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
6.
Simoens S, Scott A, Sibbald B: Job satisfaction, work-related stress and intentions to quit of Scottish GPS. Scott Med J. 2002, 47: 80-86.PubMed
7.
Sundquist J, Johansson SE: High demand, low control, and impaired general health: working conditions in a sample of Swedish general practitioners. Scand J Public Health. 2000, 28: 123-131.CrossRefPubMed
8.
Vanagas G, Bihari-Axelsson S, Vanagiene V: Do age, gender and marital status influence job strain development for general practitioner?. Medicina (Kaunas ). 2004, 40: 1014-1018.
9.
Vanagas G, Bihari-Axelsson S: Interaction among general practitioners age and patient load in the prediction of job strain, decision latitude and perception of job demands. A Cross-sectional study. BMC Public Health. 2004, 4: 59-10.1186/1471-2458-4-59.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
10.
Wilhelmsson S, Foldevi M, Akerlind I, Faresjo T: Unfavourable working conditions for female GPs. A comparison between Swedish general practitioners and district nurses. Scand J Prim Health Care. 2002, 20: 74-78. 10.1080/02813430215560.CrossRefPubMed
11.
Williams ES, Konrad TR, Linzer M, McMurray J, Pathman DE, Gerrity M, Schwartz MD, Scheckler WE, Douglas J: Physician, practice, and patient characteristics related to primary care physician physical and mental health: results from the Physician Worklife Study. Health Serv Res. 2002, 37: 121-143.PubMed
12.
Norman P, Fitter M, Wall T: General practitioners' subjective experience of surgery workload. Soc Sci Med. 1991, 33: 161-166. 10.1016/0277-9536(91)90176-D.CrossRefPubMed
13.
Peters B: Primary care: new demands for a new era. Mich Health Hosp. 1995, 31: 18-20.PubMed
14.
Schieman S, Van Gundy K, Taylor J: Status, role, and resource explanations for age patterns in psychological distress. J Health Soc Behav. 2001, 42: 80-96.CrossRefPubMed
15.
Shanley BC, Schulte KM, Chant D, Jasper A, Wellard R: Factors influencing career development of Australian general practitioners. Aust Fam Physician. 2002, 31: 49-54.PubMed
16.
Sturmberg JP: Renumeration systems and GPs: can we adapt to future demands?. Aust Fam Physician. 1999, 28: 650.PubMed
17.
Wilhemsson S, Faresjo T, Foldevi M, Akerlind I: The personal doctor reform in Sweden: perceived changes in working conditions. Fam Pract. 1998, 15: 192-197. 10.1093/fampra/15.3.192.CrossRefPubMed
18.
Schattner PL, Coman GJ: The stress of metropolitan general practice. Med J Aust. 1998, 169: 133-137.PubMed
19.
Chambers R, Wall D, Campbell I: Stresses, coping mechanisms and job satisfaction in general practitioner registrars. Br J Gen Pract. 1996, 46: 343-348.PubMedPubMedCentral
20.
21.
Gosden T, Williams J, Petchey R, Leese B, Sibbald B: Salaried contracts in UK general practice: a study of job satisfaction and stress. J Health Serv Res Policy. 2002, 7: 26-33. 10.1258/1355819021927647.CrossRefPubMed
22.
Jacobs S: Addressing the problems associated with general practitioners' workload in nursing and residential homes: findings from a qualitative study. Br J Gen Pract. 2003, 53: 113-119.PubMedPubMedCentral
23.
24.
Charles-Jones H, Houlker M: Out-of-hours work: the effect of setting up a general practitioner cooperative on GPs and their families. Br J Gen Pract. 1999, 49: 215-216.PubMedPubMedCentral
25.
Scott A, Wordsworth S: The effects of shifts in the balance of care on general practice workload. Fam Pract. 1999, 16: 12-17. 10.1093/fampra/16.1.12.CrossRefPubMed
26.
27.
de Jonge J, Mulder MJ, Nijhuis FJ: The incorporation of different demand concepts in the job demand-control model: effects on health care professionals. Soc Sci Med. 1999, 48: 1149-1160. 10.1016/S0277-9536(98)00429-8.CrossRefPubMed
28.
Young G, Spencer J: General practitioners' views about the need for a stress support service. Fam Pract. 1996, 13: 517-521.CrossRefPubMed
29.
30.
Sutherland VJ, Cooper CL: Identifying distress among general practitioners: predictors of psychological ill-health and job dissatisfaction. Soc Sci Med. 1993, 37: 575-581. 10.1016/0277-9536(93)90096-M.CrossRefPubMed
31.
Calnan M, Wainwright D, Forsythe M, Wall B, Almond S: Mental health and stress in the workplace: the case of general practice in the UK. Soc Sci Med. 2001, 52: 499-507. 10.1016/S0277-9536(00)00155-6.CrossRefPubMed
32.
McGlone SJ, Chenoweth IG: Job demands and control as predictors of occupational satisfaction in general practice. Med J Aust. 2001, 175: 88-91.PubMed
33.
Barnes-Farrell JL, Rumery SM, Swody CA: How do concepts of age relate to work and off-the-job stresses and strains? A field study of health care workers in five nations. Exp Aging Res. 2002, 28: 87-98. 10.1080/036107302753365577.CrossRefPubMed
34.
Chambers R, Campbell II: Anxiety and depression in general practitioners: associations with type of parctice, fundholding, gender and other personal characteristics. Fam Pract. 1996, 13: 170-173.CrossRef
35.
Estryn-Behar M, Kaminski M, Peigne E, Bonnet N, Vaichere E, Gozlan C, Azoulay S, Giorgi M: Stress at work and mental health status among female hospital workers. Br J Ind Med. 1990, 47: 20-28.PubMedPubMedCentral
36.
37.
Vanagas G, Bihari-Axelsson S: Cross-sectional study on quality of life,work demands and psychosocial stressof Lithuanian general practitioners. Eur J Gen Pract. 2004, 10: 179-80.CrossRef
38.
Evans J, Lambert T, Goldacre M: GP recruitment and retention: a qualitative analysis of doctors' comments about training for and working in general practice. Occas Pap R Coll Gen Pract. 2002, iii-33.
39.
Luce A, van Zwanenberg T, Firth-Cozens J, Tinwell C: What might encourage later retirement among general practitioners?. J Manag Med. 2002, 16: 303-310. 10.1108/02689230210445112.CrossRefPubMed
40.
Pitts J, Vincent S: General practitioners' reasons for not attending a higher professional education course. Br J Gen Pract. 1994, 44: 271-273.PubMedPubMedCentral
41.
Metcalfe C, Smith GD, Wadsworth E, Sterne JA, Heslop P, Macleod J, Smith A: A contemporary validation of the Reeder Stress Inventory. Br J Health Psychol. 2003, 8: 83-94. 10.1348/135910703762879228.CrossRefPubMed
42.
Schar M, Reeder LG, Dirken JM: Stress and cardiovascular health: An international cooperative study- II. The male population of a factory at Zurich. Soc Sci Med. 1973, 7: 585-603. 10.1016/0037-7856(73)90027-9.CrossRefPubMed
43.
Heslop P, Smith GD, Carroll D, Macleod J, Hyland F, Hart C: Perceived stress and coronary heart disease risk factors: the contribution of socio-economic position. Br J Health Psychol. 2001, 6: 167-178. 10.1348/135910701169133.CrossRefPubMed
44.
Karasek R, Brisson C, Kawakami N, Houtman I, Bongers P, Amick B: The Job Content Questionnaire (JCQ): an instrument for internationally comparative assessments of psychosocial job characteristics. J Occup Health Psychol. 1998, 3: 322-355. 10.1037//1076-8998.3.4.322.CrossRefPubMed
45.
Levi L, Bartley M, Marmot M, Karasek R, Theorell T, Siegrist J, Peter R, Belkic K, Savic C, Schnall P, Landsbergis P: Stressors at the workplace: theoretical models. Occup Med. 2000, 15: 69-106.PubMed
46.
Bosma H, Marmot MG, Hemingway H, Nicholson AC, Brunner E, Stansfeld SA: Low job control and risk of coronary heart disease in whitehall ii (prospective cohort) study. BMJ. 1997, 314: 558.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
47.
Grol R, Mokkink H, Smits A, Van Eijk J, Beek M, Mesker P, Mesker-Niesten J: Work satisfaction of general practitioners and the quality of patient care. Fam Pract. 1985, 2: 128-135.CrossRefPubMed
48.
Dollard MF, Winefield AH: A test of the demand-control/support model of work stress in correctional officers. J Occup Health Psychol. 1998, 3: 243-264. 10.1037//1076-8998.3.3.243.CrossRefPubMed
Metadata
Title
The factors associated to psychosocial stress among general practitioners in Lithuania. Cross-sectional study
Authors
Giedrius Vanagas
Susanna Bihari-Axelsson
Publication date
01-12-2005
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
BMC Health Services Research / Issue 1/2005
Electronic ISSN: 1472-6963
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/1472-6963-5-45

Other articles of this Issue 1/2005

BMC Health Services Research 1/2005 Go to the issue

Research article

Household out-of-pocket medical expenditures and national health insurance in Taiwan: income and regional inequality

Research article

Reactions to treatment debriefing among the participants of a placebo controlled trial

Research article

The effect of a monetary incentive on return of a postal health and development questionnaire: a randomised trial [ISRCTN53994660]

Research article

Risk adjustment methods for Home Care Quality Indicators (HCQIs) based on the minimum data set for home care

Research article

Is there value in using physician billing claims along with other administrative health care data to document the burden of adolescent injury? An exploratory investigation with comparison to self-reports in Ontario, Canada

Research article

Patient satisfaction with out-of-hours primary care in the Netherlands