Abstract
IntroductionThere is increasing concern about the effects of occupational stressors on the wellness of healthcare providers. Given high patient acuity, circadian rhythm disruption, and other workplace stressors, emergency physicians (EP) would be predicted to have high rates of occupational stress. We conducted this study to assess the prevalence of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in attending EPs practicing in the United States.MethodsA link to an electronic questionnaire was distributed through the emergency medicine-centric publication Emergency Medicine News. We compared the prevalence of PTSD in EPs to the general population using a chi-square goodness of fit test, and performed logistic regression to assess for significance of risk factors.ResultsWe received survey responses from 526 persons. In this study, EPs had a PTSD point prevalence of 15.8%. Being a victim of a prior trauma or abuse is the primary predictor of PTSD (odds ratio [OR] [95% confidence interval {CI}, 2.16 (1.21 – 3.86)], p = 0.009) and PTSD severity score (OR [95% CI, 1.16 (1.07 – 1.26)], p <0.001).ConclusionEmergency physicians have a substantial burden of PTSD, potentially jeopardizing their own health and career longevity. Future studies should focus on identifying subgroups at higher risk for PTSD and modifiable risk factors. Prevention and treatment strategies should be developed and tested in healthcare providers.
Highlights
There is increasing concern about the effects of occupational stressors on the wellness of healthcare providers
We conducted this study to assess the prevalence of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in attending emergency physicians (EP) practicing in the United States
Being a victim of a prior trauma or abuse is the primary predictor of PTSD (odds ratio [OR] [95% confidence interval {CI}, 2.16 (1.21 – 3.86)], p = 0.009) and PTSD severity score (OR [95% CI, 1.16 (1.07 – 1.26)], p
Summary
There is increasing concern about the effects of occupational stressors on the wellness of healthcare providers. We conducted this study to assess the prevalence of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in attending EPs practicing in the United States. The diagnosis of PTSD requires an exposure to trauma and symptoms from multiple domains, including intrusive memories, avoidance, negative mood, and hyperarousal. The terms secondary traumatic stress (STS) and compassion fatigue were used to describe the emotional toll suffered by persons who have repeated but indirect exposure to trauma as part of their professional or volunteer duties, such as healthcare workers, firefighters, forensic examiners, and humanitarian workers. In recognition of a growing body of literature suggesting STS has a profound effect on workers in these fields, the 2013 update to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (fifth edition) (DSM-5) added repeated indirect
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