Survey of mental health and social support of medical staff in general hospitals

Abstract

Objective To probe into the social support, coping styles, and mental health status of medical staff in a tertiary hospital in Beijing, for identifying potential mental problems. Methods Such means as the Social Support Rating Sheet (SSRS), Simple Coping Style Questionnaire (SCSQ), Symptom Checklist (SCL-90), and demographic characteristics questionnaire were called into play, to study 2460 medical staff in five tertiary hospitals in Beijing. Results Differences were identified among medical staff of different demographic characteristics, in terms of positive coping style and support dimensions. Analysis of the survey data indicates that the total SCL scores, total symptom problem index, positive symptom pain level, total average score of the factors, are positively related to passive coping style, as P<0. 01; and are negatively related to subjective/objective support, support utilization, and total support scores, as P<0. 01. Conclusions Hospital administration is expected to implement focused intervention to such medical staff as those under 40 years old, women, widows or divorcees, those with education lower than university degree, those with junior academic title or lower, those without titles, those in emergency departments and emergency intensive care units, doctors and nurses, frequent night-shift workers, those of excessively low self evaluation, and medical staff with chronic diseases. The purpose of this practice is to alleviate their mental stress. Key words: Medical staff; Social support; Mental health; Demographic characteristics