TY - JOUR
T1 - Occupational well-being in pediatricians—a survey about work-related posttraumatic stress, depression, and anxiety
AU - van Steijn, Minouk Esmée
AU - Scheepstra, Karel Willem Frank
AU - Yasar, Gulfidan
AU - Olff, Miranda
AU - de Vries, Martine Charlotte
AU - van Pampus, Maria Gabriel
PY - 2019
Y1 - 2019
N2 - The objective of this study was to study mental health, coping, and support after work-related adverse events among pediatricians. Physicians are frequently exposed to adverse events. It makes them at risk for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, and anxiety disorders. Besides the personal impact, physicians could pose a threat towards patients, as mental health problems are associated with medical errors. A questionnaire was sent to all members of the Pediatric Association of The Netherlands in October 2016. The questionnaire focused on adverse events, coping, and support. The Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale and the Trauma Screening Questionnaire were included for evaluation of anxiety, depression, and posttraumatic stress. Four hundred ten questionnaires (18.9%) were eligible for analysis. Seventy-nine % (n = 325) of the respondents experienced adverse events, with “missing a diagnosis” having the most emotional impact and “aggressive behavior” as the most common adverse event. Nine (2.2%) pediatricians scored above the cut-off value on the Trauma Screening Questionnaire, indicative of PTSD. In total, 7.3% (n = 30) and 14.1% (n = 58) scored above the cut-off values in the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, indicative of depression and anxiety. Only 26.3% reported to have a peer support protocol available for emotional support following adverse events. Conclusion: Pediatricians experience a considerable amount of adverse and potentially traumatizing events associated with significantly higher mental health problems compared to the general high-income population. Aggression towards pediatricians seems to be a common problem. Protocolled (peer) support should be implemented.What is known:• Physicians are frequently exposed to adverse events. It makes physicians at risk for depression, anxiety, and posttraumatic stress.• Physicians who are affected by these events pose a threat towards patients, as mental health problems are associated with medical errors.What is new:• Pediatricians experience a considerable amount of adverse and potentially traumatizing events associated with significantly higher mental health problems.• It is advised that (peer) support after adverse events is protocolled and education on coping strategies is implemented, to improve mental well-being of pediatricians.
AB - The objective of this study was to study mental health, coping, and support after work-related adverse events among pediatricians. Physicians are frequently exposed to adverse events. It makes them at risk for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, and anxiety disorders. Besides the personal impact, physicians could pose a threat towards patients, as mental health problems are associated with medical errors. A questionnaire was sent to all members of the Pediatric Association of The Netherlands in October 2016. The questionnaire focused on adverse events, coping, and support. The Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale and the Trauma Screening Questionnaire were included for evaluation of anxiety, depression, and posttraumatic stress. Four hundred ten questionnaires (18.9%) were eligible for analysis. Seventy-nine % (n = 325) of the respondents experienced adverse events, with “missing a diagnosis” having the most emotional impact and “aggressive behavior” as the most common adverse event. Nine (2.2%) pediatricians scored above the cut-off value on the Trauma Screening Questionnaire, indicative of PTSD. In total, 7.3% (n = 30) and 14.1% (n = 58) scored above the cut-off values in the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, indicative of depression and anxiety. Only 26.3% reported to have a peer support protocol available for emotional support following adverse events. Conclusion: Pediatricians experience a considerable amount of adverse and potentially traumatizing events associated with significantly higher mental health problems compared to the general high-income population. Aggression towards pediatricians seems to be a common problem. Protocolled (peer) support should be implemented.What is known:• Physicians are frequently exposed to adverse events. It makes physicians at risk for depression, anxiety, and posttraumatic stress.• Physicians who are affected by these events pose a threat towards patients, as mental health problems are associated with medical errors.What is new:• Pediatricians experience a considerable amount of adverse and potentially traumatizing events associated with significantly higher mental health problems.• It is advised that (peer) support after adverse events is protocolled and education on coping strategies is implemented, to improve mental well-being of pediatricians.
UR - https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?partnerID=HzOxMe3b&scp=85061716082&origin=inward
UR - https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30783762
U2 - https://doi.org/10.1007/s00431-019-03334-7
DO - https://doi.org/10.1007/s00431-019-03334-7
M3 - Article
C2 - 30783762
SN - 0340-6199
VL - 178
SP - 681
EP - 693
JO - European journal of pediatrics
JF - European journal of pediatrics
IS - 5
ER -