[Distress among physicians in hospitals - an investigation in Baden-Württemberg, Germany]

Current working conditions of physicians in hospitals display characteristics, which on the long term are harmful for the physicians mental and physical health (distress). There are problems concerning the work flow and the organization of working time which finally leads to gratification crises. How physicians perceive their stress-related working conditions is the issue this study wants to investigate.

In this study 12 062 physicians in hospitals were invited to an anonymized online-survey. 2064 physicians took part. The basis of this investigation is built by 2 theoretical stress models: The effort-reward-imbalance models of Siegrist and the job-demand-control model of Karasek. Through these theoretical models distress is measured.

The study revealed a high prevalence (55,5 %) of distress among physicians in hospitals. Furthermore there were significant differences between gender (59,7 % of female and 51,5 % of male physicians; OR 1,40; 95 %-CI 1,17‑1,66; p < 0,001), between age (61,9 % of under 35-year-old and 49,4 % of over 59-year-old; OR 1,67; 95 %-CI 1,06-2,62; p < 0,001) and between the functional position (24,6 % of chief physician and 63,8 % of junior doctors; OR 5,40; 95 %-CI 3,03-9,65; p < 0,001). An additional analysis of the psychosocial aspects of the working conditions showed that these aspects are rated positively by this sample.

These results have to be considered as a cause for concern, because this high prevalence of distress will lead sooner or later to a migration of qualified physicians abroad or to other (less stressful) jobs. In order to prevent a future shortage of qualified physicians, the working conditions have to be adapted to current needs and expectations of the younger generation.