Work-related health complaints in surgical residents and the influence of social support and job-related autonomy

Medical Education 2010: 44: 835–844 Objectives  The aim of this cross‐sectional study was to investigate the influence of job‐related autonomy and social support provided by consultants and colleagues on the stress‐related health complaints of surgical residents in the Netherlands. Methods  All (n =...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Medical education 2010-08, Vol.44 (8), p.835-844
Main Authors: Boerjan, Martine, Bluyssen, Simone J M, Bleichrodt, Robert P, Van Weel-Baumgarten, Evelyn M, Van Goor, Harry
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Age Factors
Biological and medical sciences
Cross-Sectional Studies
Employment - psychology
Female
General Surgery - education
Health participants
Health Status
Hospitals, University
Humans
Internship and Residency
Male
Medical sciences
Miscellaneous
Netherlands
Occupational Diseases - epidemiology
Occupational Diseases - psychology
Personal Autonomy
Public health. Hygiene
Public health. Hygiene-occupational medicine
Risk Factors
Sex Factors
Social Support
Stress, Psychological - epidemiology
Stress, Psychological - psychology
Surveys and Questionnaires
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Summary:Medical Education 2010: 44: 835–844 Objectives  The aim of this cross‐sectional study was to investigate the influence of job‐related autonomy and social support provided by consultants and colleagues on the stress‐related health complaints of surgical residents in the Netherlands. Methods  All (n = 400) Dutch residents in training in general surgery were sent validated self‐report questionnaires. Odds ratios were calculated predicting health and exposure to long‐term stress for gender, number of working hours, type of hospital, level of social support, job‐related autonomy and training phase. The interactions between job‐related autonomy and level of social support provided by consultants and colleagues, and all variables, were analysed. Results  A total of 254 of 400 (64%) residents returned questionnaires that were eligible for analysis. Residents experienced more health complaints than the average member of the Dutch working population (4.0 versus 2.5; p = 0.000). Male and senior residents were significantly ‘healthier’ than female and junior residents, respectively. Social support by consultants was a strong predictor of health and social support by colleagues showed a significant interaction with gender. Women and residents in university hospitals experienced less social support by consultants than men and residents in general teaching hospitals. Residents working in university hospitals experienced lower levels of job‐related autonomy and less support from colleagues in comparison with those working in general teaching hospitals. A working week of > 60 hours adversely affected health and job‐related autonomy. Conclusions  Social support provided by consultants and colleagues, and job control, are important factors that interact with the work‐associated, stress‐related health of residents in training in general surgery. Residents report a greater number of health complaints than the average member of the working population, especially female and junior residents. General teaching hospitals seem to provide better support at work than university hospitals.
ISSN:0308-0110
1365-2923
DOI:10.1111/j.1365-2923.2010.03724.x