engleski

Which Work-Related Stressors Are Present Among Maxillofacial And Ent Surgeons?

Objectives: The analyses of the medical practice in hospitals showed that hospitals are one of the most stressful workplaces. Psychological distress during long period of time among healthcare professionals has negative effects on their own health and work ability as well as on quality of care provided to patients. This paper is a report of a study conducted to determine which occupational stressors are present in the working environment of maxillofacial surgeons and ear nose and throat (ENT) surgeons and to estimate which stressors and to what extent predict physicians’ work ability. Material and Method: A cross- sectional study was conducted on more than 700 physicians in Croatian hospitals. This paper presents the results related to maxillofacial and ENT surgeons. Questionnaires were distributed to a convenience sample of 67 maxillofacial surgeons and ENT surgeons employed at Croatian hospital. Data were collected using the Occupational Stress Assessment Questionnaire and Work Ability Index (WAI) Questionnaire. Binary logistic regression was performed to assess how stressors and other socio-demographic characteristics predict work ability groups. Results: Majority of participants were males (44 males v.s. 23 females). Participants’ median age was 42.0 years with interquartile range being 30.0-55.0 years. We identified six major groups of occupational stressors: 1.Organization of work and financial issues, 2.Public criticism, 3.Professional and intellectual demands, 4. Shift work, 5.Interpersonal conflicts at workplace, 6. Hazards at workplace. Median WAI was 41 with interquartile range being 36.7-42.0, which indicated good work ability. Binary logistic regression model showed that none of the associations between the stressors and WAI was statistically significant. The association between age and WAI was inverse and statistically significant (OR =0.906, 95% CI 0.828-0.990). Maxillofacial surgery is a highly demanding profession. Surgeons are exposed to multiple occupational stressors. However, in our study stressors were not substantially correlated with low work ability. Summary: This paper is a report of a study conducted to determine which occupational stressors are present in maxillofacial surgeons’ work and working environment and to estimate which stressors and to what extent predict surgeons’ work ability. Maxillofacial surgeons are exposed to wide range of stressors in the workplace, but stressors do not seem to be significant predictors of low work ability. Professional and intellectual demands could protect good work ability. Our statistical model showed that older age was considerably associated with decreased work ability.

stress; surgery

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