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Human Resources for Health
Published in: Human Resources for Health 1/2016

Open Access 01-12-2016 | Research

Workload, mental health and burnout indicators among female physicians

Authors: Zsuzsa Győrffy, Diana Dweik, Edmond Girasek

Published in: Human Resources for Health | Issue 1/2016

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Abstract

Background

Female doctors in Hungary have worse indicators of physical and mental health compared with other professional women. We aimed to cast light on possible indicators of mental health, workload, and burnout of female physicians.

Methods

Two time-points (T) were compared, in 2003 (T1 n = 408) and 2013 (T2 n = 2414), based on two nationally representative surveys of female doctors, and comparison made with data from other professional control groups. Independent samples t test or chi-squared test was used both for the two time-point comparison and the comparison between the index and the control groups. The background factors of sleep disorders and burnout were assessed by binary logistic regression analysis.

Results

No significant differences in the rates of depressive symptoms and suicidal thoughts and attempts were detected between the 2003 and 2013 cohorts, but the prevalence of sleep disorders increased. The workload increased, and there was less job satisfaction in 2013 than in 2003, coupled to more stressful or difficult work-related situations. The personal accomplishment component of burnout significantly decreased in line with the declining work-related satisfaction. Compared to the professional control groups, the prevalence of depressive symptoms, suicide attempts, and sleep disorders was higher among female physicians at both time-points. The number of workplaces, frequency of work-related stressful situations, and intensive role conflict was associated with sleep disorders and decreased personal accomplishment.

Conclusions

In comparison with the other professional groups, female doctors had worse mental health indicators with regard to depression, suicidal ideas, and sleep disorders both in 2003 and 2013 while within professional strata the changes seemed to be less. Increasing workload had a clear impact on sleep disorders and the personal accomplishment dimension of burnout.
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Metadata
Title
Workload, mental health and burnout indicators among female physicians
Authors
Zsuzsa Győrffy
Diana Dweik
Edmond Girasek
Publication date
01-12-2016
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
Human Resources for Health / Issue 1/2016
Electronic ISSN: 1478-4491
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12960-016-0108-9

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