How healthy are Health Professionals? Health Related Quality of Life of Doctors and Paramedics at a Tertiary Care Hospital in India

Abstract

Background & objectives: Health and quality of life of health personnel significantly influences optimum functioning of any health care service. This study assessed the Health related quality of life (HRQoL) of health personnel at a tertiary care hospital in India. Methods: We assessed HRQoL of doctors, nurses and health technicians using EQ 5D-5L. Demographic details and presence of stress and health problem were noted. Respondents answered the EQ 5D-5L questionnaire by selecting appropriate level from 1-no problem to 5- severe problem for five dimensionsMobility, self-care, usual activity, pain/discomfort and anxiety/depression. They also selected their overall health level on EQ VAS scale from 0-worst possible to 100-best possible health. Data was analysed to assess scores for each dimensions, EQ VAS score and EQ-5D-5L Crosswalk Index. Results: Total 272 health personnel participated with 126 doctors and 146 paramedics. Mean age was 37.77± 15.68with 45% male participants. Of five dimensions of EQ 5D-5L, 100% reported level 1(no problem) for self- care while 88.82% of doctors and 83.56% paramedics reported level 1 for pain/discomfort. EQ VAS did not differ significantly between male and female (P=0.215). Mean EQ VAS score for doctors and paramedics was 90.225±8.0191 and 90.593± 8.129 (P=0.7072) respectively. Mobility, pain/discomfort and anxiety inversely correlated with EQ VAS score. Presence of stress and health problem inversely correlated with EQ VAS score. Interpretation & Conclusions: The study suggests reasonably good health related quality of life of health personnel at JMSHF. Age is not a predictor of HRQoL. Stress and health problem negatively influence HRQoL. EQ 5D-5L is a reliable instrument for measuring HRQoL in our set up. Key Words- Health personnel, Health status, HRQoL, EQ 5D-5L, Quality of life.