Abstract
IntroductionDoctors are vulnerable to psychiatric morbidity as a result of their busy schedules and multiple role obligations. Yet, they often don't admit they have mental health problems nor are they readily subjected to mental health evaluation by their colleagues due to fear of labeling and general stigma.MethodsA cross-sectional survey of doctors in the service of University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital, Ilorin, Nigeria was done using a socio-demographic questionnaire and the twelve items General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12) using a cut-off point of 3 to indicate possibility of psychiatric disorder (GHQ-12 positive). Non-parametric analysis and regression test of factors associated with psychiatric morbidity was done using SPSS. Level of significance was set at 0.05 p-value.ResultsTwo hundred and forty one doctors representing 68.9% of the doctors participated in the survey. The point prevalence of psychiatric morbidity among the doctors using the GHQ-12 was 14.9%. Being married, non-participation in social activities and perception of work load as being “heavy” were significantly associated with psychiatric morbidity (p-value < 0.05).ConclusionThe prevalence of psychiatric morbidity among doctors at the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital was higher than the general population prevalence. Measures to lessen the negative effect of marriage and the perceived heavy work load on mental health of doctors, such as provision of recreational facilities within the hospital and encouragement of doctors’ participation in social activities are advanced.
Highlights
Medical doctors are known to take care of patients
A Nigerian study has corroborated some of these submissions in a study that reported that 4.1% of the study population of doctors were hazardous users while 12.0% were moderate users of alcohol [3]
The data for this study are part of a larger study to determine the doctors' management skill of the mentally ill, psychological impact of work on the doctors as well as their alcohol use [3]. It was done at the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital (UITH), a tertiary health centre that provides health services for Kwara State, one of the 36 States in Nigeria and the surrounding states
Summary
Medical doctors are known to take care of patients. Doctors have been reported to neglect their own health [1]. Doctors find it difficult to admit that their work is stressful, that they have abnormal coping strategies such as drinking or drug-related problems or even to express that they need help for these problems [2]. A Nigerian study has corroborated some of these submissions in a study that reported that 4.1% of the study population of doctors were hazardous users while 12.0% were moderate users of alcohol [3]. Doctors seem to have higher rates of mental disorders and do not report these problems early enough as a result of stigma, the culture of "always coping", fear about damaging job prospect, and uncertainty about who to tell [2,4]
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