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Physicians and Stress - Highlights and preventions |
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“Physicians
are subject to stress and frustration”; it is a global problem.
Physicians’ frustration and dissatisfaction are not with the core
concepts of the discipline, or solely with complaints about low
reimbursement, or even with hassles related to managed care. They stem
from the economic system and its encroachment on the patient-doctor
relationship. Additionally, several job related stresses increase the
challenges to continue enjoying medicine from the first time we put on a
lab coat. In
1999, family physicians conducted 35 million visits, more than any other
specialty (1), and in 2000 family practice had more residency programs
than any other specialty (2). Family physicians, as well as other
specialty physicians, are subjected to daily stresses and frustrations,
as they try to overcome job related issues and an ever changing health
care system. (3,4,5,6). Physicians
initially work hard to pay their medical school fees. Afterwards, they
have to manage the increasing cost of medical practice. They have to
maintain a hard work schedule to afford the rather expensive life style
they have created as compensation for family members for their continued
absences. Finally, family physicians are burdened
by the responsibility of supporting their children in having a less
burdened professional career. Our profession might be considered neither
among the best jobs, nor the most stressful jobs of the 21st
century. However, our job has lots of demands; it deals with health and
life standards. It’s a job that helps people and entails several
stressful impacts. |
Sources
of Stress and Frustration in our Profession: 1 -
The constant changing nature of managed care as well as the
growing governmental and insurance companies intrusion into the practice
of our profession. (4) 2 -
Constant expectation to limit cost and provision of affordable
rather than ideal services. This is more noticed with work on salaried basis.
(4,5) 3 -
Continuous expectation to update medical knowledge, and provide
high quality care. (4) 4 -
Progressive increase in practice costs and keeping up with
professional demands. (6) 5 -
Patients and society continue to be strongly ambivalent about
physicians: patients expect us to be always available and ready to
listen to their concerns regardless of our state of mind, mood, or
physical satiety. (4,5) 6 -
“We are always expected to be infallible in diagnosis and
treatment”. Moreover, we are required to be models of virtuous
behavior in our communities. (4,5)
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