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 2023 EHA Congress 2023 ASCO Annual Meeting
Clinical Collections
Advances in Alzheimer’s

ACC 2024 Congress

Catch up on all the top stories and latest evidence in cardiology research with our ACC 2024 Congress hub page.
ADVANCED SEARCH
Log in
Top
BMC Public Health
Published in: BMC Public Health 1/2014

Open Access 01-12-2014 | Research article

A comparison of risk and protective factors related to suicide ideation among residents and specialists in academic medicine

Authors: Mari Eneroth, Marie Gustafsson Sendén, Lise T Løvseth, Karin Schenck-Gustafsson, Ann Fridner

Published in: BMC Public Health | Issue 1/2014

Login to get access

Abstract

Background

Physicians have an elevated risk of experiencing suicidal thoughts, which might be due to work-related factors. However, the hierarchical work positions as well as work-related health differ among resident and specialist physicians. As such, the correlates of suicide ideation may also vary between these two groups.

Methods

In the present study, work- and health-related factors and their association with suicidal thoughts among residents (n = 234) and specialists (n = 813) working at a university hospital were examined using cross-sectional data.

Results

Logistic regression analysis showed that having supportive meetings was associated with a lower level of suicide ideation among specialists (OR = 0.68, 95% CI: 0.50-0.94), while an empowering leadership was related to a lower level of suicide ideation among residents (OR = 0.55, 95% CI: 0.32-0.94). Having been harassed at work was associated with suicidal ideation among specialists (OR = 2.26, 95% CI: 1.31-3.91). In addition, sickness presenteeism and work disengagement were associated with suicide ideation in both groups of physicians.

Conclusions

These findings suggest that different workplace interventions are needed to prevent suicide ideation in residents and specialists.
Literature
1.
Casey P, Dunn G, Kelly BD, Lehtinen V, Dalgard OS, Dowrick C, Ayuso-Mateus JL: The prevalence of suicidal ideation in the general population: results from the Outcome of Depression International Network (ODIN) study. Soc Psychiatry Epidemiol. 2008, 43: 299-304. 10.1007/s00127-008-0313-5.CrossRef
2.
Kessler RC, Borges G, Walters EE: Prevalence of and risk factors for lifetime suicide attempts in the national comorbidity survey. Arch Gen Psychiatry. 1996, 56: 617-626.CrossRef
3.
Scocco P, Girolamo G, Vilagut G, Alonso J: Prevalence of suicide ideation, plans, and attempts and related risk factors in Italy: results from the European study on the epidemiology of mental disorders-world mental health study. Compr Psychiatry. 2008, 49: 13-21. 10.1016/j.comppsych.2007.08.004.CrossRefPubMed
4.
McMichael AJ: Standardized mortality ratios and the “healthy worker effect”: Scratching beneath the surface. J Occup Med. 1976, 18: 165-168. 10.1097/00043764-197603000-00009.CrossRefPubMed
5.
Agerbo E, Gunnell D, Bonde JP, Mortensen PB, Nordentoft M: Suicide and occupation: the impact of socio-economic, demographic and psychiatric differences. Psychol Med. 2007, 37: 1131-1140. 10.1017/S0033291707000487.CrossRefPubMed
6.
Frank E, Biola H, Burnett CA: Mortality rates and causes among U.S. physicians. Am J Prev Med. 2000, 19: 155-159. 10.1016/S0749-3797(00)00201-4.CrossRefPubMed
7.
Hem E, Haltorsen T, Gjerløv Aasland O, Tyssen R, Vaglum P, Ekeberg Ø: Suicide rates according to education with a particular focus on physicians in Norway 1960-2000. Psychol Med. 2005, 35: 873-880. 10.1017/S0033291704003344.CrossRefPubMed
8.
Lindeman S, Laara E, Hakko H, Lonnqvist J: A systematic review on gender-specific suicide mortality in medical doctors. Brit J Psychiat. 1996, 168: 274-279. 10.1192/bjp.168.3.274.CrossRefPubMed
9.
Schernhammer E, Colditz GA: Suicide rates among physicians: a quantitative and gender assessment (meta-analysis). Am J Psychiatry. 2004, 161: 2295-2302. 10.1176/appi.ajp.161.12.2295.CrossRefPubMed
10.
11.
Gold KJ, Sen A, Schwenk TL: Details on suicide among US physicians: data from the national violent death reporting system. Gen Hosp Psychiatry. 2013, 35: 45-49. 10.1016/j.genhosppsych.2012.08.005.CrossRefPubMed
12.
Rout U: Gender differences in stress, satisfaction and mental wellbeing among general practitioners in England. Psychol Health Med. 1999, 4: 345-354. 10.1080/135485099106081.CrossRef
13.
Fridner A: Career paths and carer patterns among physicians with a PhD. PhD Thesis. 2004, Uppsala, Sweden: Department of Psychology, Uppsala University
14.
Bergman B, Ahmad F, Stuart DE: Physician health, stress and gender at a university hospital. J Psych-som Res. 2003, 54: 171-178. 10.1016/S0022-3999(02)00484-1.CrossRef
15.
Foster S, McMurray J, Linzer M, Leawitt JW, Rosenberg M, Carnes M: Results of a gender climate and work environment survey at a mid-western academic health center. Acad Med. 2000, 75: 635-660.CrossRef
16.
Fridner A, Belkic K, Marimi M, Minucci D, Pavan L, Schenk-Gustafsson K: Survey on recent suicidal ideation among female university hospital physicians in Sweden and Italy (The HOUPE-Study): cross-sectional associations with work stressors. Gend Med. 2009, 6: 314-328. 10.1016/j.genm.2009.04.006.CrossRefPubMed
17.
Fridner A, Belkic K, Minucci D, Pavan L, Marini M, Pingel B, Putoto G, Simonato P, Løvseth LT, Schenk-Gustafsson K: Work environment and recent suicidal thoughts among male university hospital physicians in Sweden and Italy: The health and organization among university hospital physicians in Europe (HOUPE) study. Gend Med. 2011, 8: 269-279. 10.1016/j.genm.2011.05.009.CrossRefPubMed
18.
Heijstra TM, Rafnsdóttir GL, Jónsdóttir LS: Autonomy and well-being of Nordic male and female hospital physicians. IOS Press. 2011, 40: 437-443. 10.1016/j.lpm.2010.10.037.CrossRef
19.
Lindfors PM, Meretoja OA, Töyru SM, Luukonen RA, Elovaino MJ, Leino JT: Job satisfaction, work ability and life satisfaction among Finnish anaesthesiologists. Acta Anasthesiol Scand. 2007, 51: 815-822. 10.1111/j.1399-6576.2007.01343.x.CrossRef
20.
Sen S, Kranzler HR, Krystal JH, Speller H, Chan G, Gelernter J, Guille C: A prospective cohort study investigating factors associated with depression during internship. Arch Gen Psychiatry. 2010, 67: 557-565. 10.1001/archgenpsychiatry.2010.41.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
21.
Tyssen R, Vaglum P, Grønvold NT, Ekeberg Ø: Suicidal ideation among medical students and young physicians: a nationwide and prospective study of prevalence and predictors. J Affect Disord. 2001, 64: 69-79. 10.1016/S0165-0327(00)00205-6.CrossRefPubMed
22.
Tyssen R, Vaglum P, Grønvold NT, Ekeberg Ø: Factors in medical school that predict postgraduate mental health problems in need of treatment: a nationwide and longitudinal study. Med Educ. 2001, 35: 110-120. 10.1046/j.1365-2923.2001.00770.x.CrossRefPubMed
23.
Tyssen R, Hem E, Vaglum P, Grønvold N, Ekeberg Ø: The process of suicidal planning among medical doctors: predictors in a longitudinal Norwegian sample. J Affect Disord. 2004, 80: 191-198. 10.1016/S0165-0327(03)00091-0.CrossRefPubMed
24.
25.
Bernal M, Haro JM, Bernert S, Brugha T, de Graaf R, Bruffaerts R, Lépine JP, de Girolamo G, Vilgaut G, Gausqet I, Torres JV, Kovess V, Heider D, Neeleman J, Kessler R, Alonso J: Risk factors for suicidality in Europe: Results from the ESEMED study. J Affect Disord. 2007, 101: 27-34. 10.1016/j.jad.2006.09.018.CrossRefPubMed
26.
Nock MK, Borges G, Bromet EJ, Alonso J, Angermeyer M, Beutrais A, Bruffaerts R, Chiu WT, deGirolamo G, Gluzman S, de Graaf R, Gureje O, Haro JM, Huang Y, Karam E, Kessler RC, Lépine JP, Levinson D, Medina-Mora ME, Ono Y, Posada-Villa J, Williams D: Cross-national prevalence and risk factors for suicidal ideation, plans and attempts. Brit J Psychiat. 2008, 192: 98-105. 10.1192/bjp.bp.107.040113.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
27.
King MB, Cockroft A, Gooch C: Emotional distress in doctors: sources, effects and help sought. J R Soc Med. 1992, 85: 605-608.PubMedPubMedCentral
28.
Campbell DA, Sonnad SS, Eckhauser FE, Campbell KK, Greenfield LJ: Burnout among American surgeons. Surgery. 2001, 130: 696-795. 10.1067/msy.2001.116676.CrossRefPubMed
29.
Jena AB, Baldwin DC, Daugherty SR, Meltzer DO, Arora VM: Presenteeism among resident physicians. JAMA. 2010, 2010 (304): 1166-1168.CrossRef
30.
Fridner A, Belkic K, Marino M, Gustafsson Sendén M, Schenk-Gustafsson K: Why don’t academic physicians seek needed professional help for psychological distress?. Swiss Med Wkly. 2012, 2010 (142): w13626-
31.
Gustafsson Sendén M, Tevik Løvseth L, Schenk-Gustafsson K, Fridner A: What makes physicians go to work while sick: a comparative study of sickness presenteeism in four European countries (HOUPE). in press
32.
Taloyan M, Aronsson G, Leineweber C, Magnusson Hansson L, Alexandersson K, Westerlund H: Sickness Presenteeism predicts suboptimal self-rated health and sickness absence: a nationally representative study of the Swedish working population. PLoS One. 2012, 7: 9-CrossRef
33.
Bakker AB, Schaufeli WB, Sixma HJ, Bosveld W, Van Direndonck D: Patient demands, lack of reciprocity, and burnout: a five-year longitudinal study among general practitioners. J Organ Behav. 2000, 21: 425-441. 10.1002/(SICI)1099-1379(200006)21:4<425::AID-JOB21>3.0.CO;2-#.CrossRef
34.
Lindström K, Elo A-L, Skogstad A, Dallner M, Gamerale F, Hottinen V, Knardahl S, Orhede E: Tema Nord 2000:603. User’s guide for the QPS Nordic. General nordic questionnaire for psychological and social factors at work. 2000, Copenhagen: Nordic Council of Ministers
35.
Aasland OG, Falkum E: Research programme on Norwegian doctors’ health, sickness, working and living conditions. Tidsskr Nor Laegeforen. 1994, 128: 2218-2221.
36.
Demerouti E, Bakker AB, Nachreiner F, Schaufeli WB: The job demands-resources model of burnout. J Appl Psychol. 2001, 86: 499-512.CrossRefPubMed
37.
Meehan P, Lamb J, Saltzman L, O’Caroll P: Attempted suicide among young adults: progress toward a meaningful estimate of prevalence. Am J Psychiatry. 1992, 149: 41-44.CrossRefPubMed
38.
der Heijden F, Dillingh G, Bakker A, Prins J: Suicidal thoughts among medical residents with burnout. Arch Suicide Res. 2008, 12: 344-346. 10.1080/13811110802325349.CrossRef
39.
Frank E, Carrera JS, Stratton T, Bickel J, Nora LM: Experiences of belittlement and harassment and their correlates among medical students in the United States: longitudinal survey. Br Med J. 2006, 333: 682-684. 10.1136/bmj.38924.722037.7C.CrossRef
40.
Groebblinghoff D, Becker M: A case study of mobbing and the clinical treatment of mobbing victims. Eur J Work Organ Psych. 1996, 5: 277-294. 10.1080/13594329608414859.CrossRef
41.
Andersen GR, Aasland OG, Fridner A, Tevik Lövseth L: Harassment among universityhospital physicians in four European cities: results from a cross-sectional study in Norway, Sweden, Iceland and Italy (the HOUPE study). Work. 2009, 37: 99-110.
42.
Hersey P, Blanchard KH: Management of organizational behaviour; utilizing human resources. 1969, Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall
43.
Olofsson B: Opening up: psychiatric nurses’ experiences of participating in reflection groups focusing on the use of coercion. J Psychiatr Ment Hlt. 2005, 12: 259-267.
44.
Buus N, Angel S, Traynor M, Gonge H: Psychiatric hospital nursing staff’s experiences of participating in group-based clinical supervision: an interview study. Issues Ment Health Nurs. 2010, 31: 654-661. 10.3109/01612840.2010.489991.CrossRefPubMed
45.
Center C, Davis M, Detre T, Ford DE, Hansbrough W, Hendin H, Laszlo J, Litts DA, Mann J, Mansky PA, Miles SH, Proujansky R, Reynolds CF, Silverman MM: Confronting depression and suicide in physicians: a consensus statement. J Am Med Assoc. 2003, 289: 3161-3166. 10.1001/jama.289.23.3161.CrossRef
Metadata
Title
A comparison of risk and protective factors related to suicide ideation among residents and specialists in academic medicine
Authors
Mari Eneroth
Marie Gustafsson Sendén
Lise T Løvseth
Karin Schenck-Gustafsson
Ann Fridner
Publication date
01-12-2014
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
BMC Public Health / Issue 1/2014
Electronic ISSN: 1471-2458
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2458-14-271

Other articles of this Issue 1/2014

BMC Public Health 1/2014 Go to the issue

Research article

Elementary school children’s recess schedule and dietary intake at lunch: a community-based participatory research partnership pilot study

Research article

The association of depression and anxiety with glycemic control among Mexican Americans with diabetes living near the U.S.-Mexico border

Research article

Health-related on-pack communication and nutritional value of ready-to-eat breakfast cereals evaluated against five nutrient profiling schemes

Study protocol

Effectiveness of a primary care-based intervention to reduce sitting time in overweight and obese patients (SEDESTACTIV): a randomized controlled trial; rationale and study design

Research article

Factors associated with sterilization use among women leaving a U.S. jail: a mixed methods study

Research article

Socioeconomic and demographic factors modify the association between informal caregiving and health in the Sandwich Generation