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Depression in family medicine faculty
Anthony J Costa1, Susan Labuda Schrop, Gary McCord
1Family Practice Residency Program, Florida Hospital, Orlando, FL 32804, USA. anthony.costamd@flhosp.org
Family Medicine
|April 7, 2005
Summary
Depression affects 12% of family medicine faculty, impacting patient care and teaching. Key risk factors include being single, minority status, and high stress levels.
Area of Science:
- Medical Education
- Psychiatry
- Family Medicine
Background:
- Depression in family medicine faculty can negatively impact patient care and teaching effectiveness.
- It may also lead to career changes within the profession.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the nationwide prevalence of depression among family medicine residency program faculty.
- To identify risk factors associated with depression in this population.
Main Methods:
- A nationwide survey was conducted in October 2000 targeting full-time US family medicine faculty, program directors, and behavioral scientists.
- The survey utilized the Beck Depression Inventory II, the Social Readjustment Rating Scale (SRRS), and a stress scale, alongside demographic and clinical practice data.
Main Results:
- 1,418 faculty members completed the survey.
- 12% of respondents reported mild to severe depression (7% mild, 5% moderate to severe).
- Significant predictors of depression included being single, belonging to an underrepresented minority group, higher stress scores, and increased time spent teaching.
Conclusions:
- A notable percentage of family medicine faculty experience depression, potentially affecting their professional performance.
- Awareness of depression prevalence and its risk factors is crucial for program directors and department chairs to support faculty well-being and maintain quality in patient care and teaching.