The occupational fatigue in anesthesiologists: illusion or real?

Fatigue is usually reported after lack of sleep or excessive physical or mental effort. Endocrine disorders are also associated with the symptoms of fatigue. Symptoms of fatigue were reported 20% of working population. Anesthesiologists are more exposed to stress at work because of long working hours and high demand of the job. The aim of this study was to evaluate fatigue at work from anesthesiologist' own perspectives and to identify the possible risk factors associated with fatigue.

Two hundred and ten persons, were participated in this survey, they were 50 anesthesiologists, 60 diabetic patients and 100 employees. Participants were asked to answer two self report Questionnaires: The Multidimensional Fatigue Inventory (MFI-20) and General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12) which used to assess the degree of fatigue and mental health respectively.

Total fatigue score was significant in anesthesiologists compared to both patients (P value = 0.047) and employees (P value < 0.001). All sub-items of fatigue score were higher in anesthesiologists compared to those of employees (P value < 0.001), however only general and mental fatigue were higher in comparison to patients (P value = 0.02). The GHQ score of the anesthesiologists was significantly higher when compared to those of the employees (P value < 0.001) but no difference with patients (P value = 0.090). Physical, mental and total score of fatigue were higher in female anesthesiologist.

fatigue and psychological distress are common among anesthesiologists in comparison to patients and ordinary hospital employees. Female anesthesiologists were affected more by fatigue.