Hostname: page-component-848d4c4894-sjtt6 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-07-05T01:50:28.065Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Stress and burnout among Portuguese anaesthesiologists

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  10 February 2006

A. Morais ,
P. Maia ,
A. Azevedo ,
C. Amaral  and
J. Tavares
A. Morais
Affiliation:
Hospital de S. João, Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care, Porto, Portugal
P. Maia
Affiliation:
Hospital de S. João, Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care, Porto, Portugal
A. Azevedo
Affiliation:
University of Porto Medical School, Department of Hygiene and Epidemiology, Porto, Portugal
C. Amaral
Affiliation:
Hospital de S. João, Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care, Porto, Portugal
J. Tavares
Affiliation:
Hospital de S. João, Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care, Porto, Portugal
Get access

Abstract

Summary

Background and objective: Anaesthesiology is considered a stressful occupation. Our purpose was to assess stress and burnout among Portuguese anaesthesiologists. Methods: A cross-sectional survey based on an anonymous questionnaire was sent to all Portuguese anaesthesiologists registered by the Portuguese Medical Association. Data on patient characteristics and professional variables, perceived stress (Perceived Stress Scale), the subscale of work satisfaction of the Pressure Management Indicator scale, burnout (Maslach Burnout Inventory) and main stress factors were collected. The proportion of participation was 31.8%. Results: The average value of perceived stress scale was 24.0 (range: 0–56). Among the 263 anaesthesiologists, 57.9% experienced emotional exhaustion, 44.8% lack of personal accomplishment and 90.9% depersonalisation. Lack of personal accomplishment increased with number of children among women but not among men; depersonalisation was more frequent among anaesthesiologists working in community hospitals and anaesthesiologists with leadership functions experienced less professional stress. Conclusion: There are stress conditions and burnout amongst Portuguese anaesthesiologists. The prevalence of depersonalisation was extremely high in the studied sample. Emotional exhaustion is partially explained by high perceived-stress and low satisfaction with organisation in the job according to Pressure Management Indicator scale.

Keywords

STRESSPSYCHOLOGICALPROFESSIONAL ROLEANAESTHESIOLOGYCAREER CHOICE
Type
Original Article
Information
European Journal of Anaesthesiology , Volume 23 , Issue 5 , May 2006 , pp. 433 - 439
Copyright
2006 European Society of Anaesthesiology

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Simpson LA, Grant L. Sources and magnitude of job stress among physicians. J Behav Med 1991; 14: 27–42.Google Scholar
Jackson S. The role of stress in anaesthetists’ health and wellbeing. Acta Anaesthesiol Scand 1999; 43: 583–602.Google Scholar
Gaba M, Howard S, Jump B. Production pressure in the work environment. California anesthesiologists’ attitudes and experiences. Anesthesiology 1994; 81: 488–500.Google Scholar
Seeley HF. The practice of anaesthesia: a stressor for the middle-aged? Anaesthesia 1996; 51: 571–574.Google Scholar
Mota-Cardoso R, Araújo A, Ramos R, Gonçalves G, Ramos M. O stress nos professores portugueses – Estudo IPPSO 2000: Porto Editora, Colecção Mundo de Saberes 31, 2002.
Reeve PE. Personality characteristics of a sample of anaesthetics. Anaesthesia 1980; 35: 559–568.Google Scholar
Scheiber SC. Stress in physicians. In: Payne R, Firth-Cozens J, eds. Stress in Health Professionals. Chicester: John Wiley, 1987: 23–44.
Valliant GE, Subowale NC, McArthur C. Some psychological vulnerabilities of physicians. New Engl J Med 1972; 287: 372–375.Google Scholar
Maslach C, Jackson SE. Maslach Burnout Inventory Manual, 2nd edn.Palo Alto: Consulting Psychologists Press, 1986.
Gundersen L. Physician burnout. Ann Int Med 2001; 135: 145–148.Google Scholar
Firth-Cozens J, Greenhalgh J. Doctors' perceptions of the link between Stress and lowered care. Soc Sci Med 1997; 44: 1017–1027.Google Scholar
Grunfeld E, Whelan TJ, Zitzelsberger L, Willan AR, Montesanto B, Evans WK. Cancer care workers in Ontario: prevalence of burnout, job stress and job satisfaction. Can Med Assoc J 2000; 163: 166–169.Google Scholar
Lutsky I, Hopwood M, Abram SE, Jacobson GR, Haddox JD, Kampine JEP. Psychoactive substance use among American anesthesiologists: a 30-year retrospective study. Can J Anaesth 1993; 40: 915–921.Google Scholar
Ward CF, Ward GC, Saidman LJ. Drug abuse in anesthesia training programs. A survey: 1970 through 1980. JAMA 1983; 250: 922–925.Google Scholar
Booth JV, Grossman D, Moore Jet al. Substance abuse among physicians: a survey of academic anesthesiology programs. Anesth Analg 2002; 95: 1024–1030.Google Scholar
Weeks AM, Buckland MR, Morgan EB, Myles PS. Chemical dependence in anaesthetic registrars in Australia and New Zealand. Anaesth Intens Care 1993; 21: 151–155.Google Scholar
Lew EA. Mortality experience among anesthesiologists 1954–1976. Anesthesiology 1979; 51: 195–199.Google Scholar
Nyssen AS, Hansez I, Baele P, Lamy M, De Keyser V. Occupational stress and burnout in anaesthesia. Brit J Anaesth 2003; 90: 333–337.Google Scholar
Cohen S, Kamarck T, Mermelstein R. A global measure of perceived stress. J Health Soc Behav 1983; 24: 385–396.Google Scholar
Williams S, Cooper CL. Measuring occupational stress: development of the pressure management indicator. J Occupat Health Psychol 1998; 3: 306–321.Google Scholar
Maslach C, Jackson SE, Leiter MP. Maslach Burnout Inventory, 3rd edn.Palo Alto, CA: Consulting Psychologists Press, 1996.
Derogatis LR, Lipman RS, Covi L. SCL-90: an outpatient psychiatric rating scale – preliminary report. Psychopharmacol Bull 1973; 9: 13–28.Google Scholar
Linkman Conference, Association of Anaesthetics of Great Britain and Ireland 1995, Birmingham.
Jessie A, Leak MD. Stress Management: finding your purpose on the Ark. ASA Newsletter 2001; 65 (11).Google Scholar
Visser RM, Smets EM, Oort FJ, de Haes HC. Stress, satisfaction and burnout among Dutch medical specialist. Can Med Assoc J 2003; 168: 175–271.Google Scholar