The factors associated to psychosocial stress among general practitioners in Lithuania. Cross-sectional study

Giedrius Vanagas,Susanna Bihari-Axelsson

doi:10.1186/1472-6963-5-45

Giedrius Vanagas, Susanna Bihari-Axelsson

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1186/1472-6963-5-45

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Abstract

BackgroundThere are number of studies showing that general practice is one of the most stressful workplace among health care workers. Since Baltic States regained independence in 1990, the reform of the health care system took place in which new role and more responsibilities were allocated to general practitioners' in Lithuania. This study aimed to explore the psychosocial stress level among Lithuanian general practitioner's and examine the relationship between psychosocial stress and work characteristics.MethodsThe cross-sectional study of 300 Lithuanian General practitioners. Psychosocial stress was investigated with a questionnaire based on the Reeder scale. Job demands were investigated with the R. Karasek scale. The analysis included descriptive statistics; interrelationship analysis between characteristics and multivariate logistic regression to estimate odds ratios for each of the independent variables in the model.ResultsResponse rate 66% (N = 197). Our study highlighted highest prevalence of psychosocial stress among widowed, single and female general practitioners. Lowest prevalence of psychosocial stress was among males and older age general practitioners. Psychosocial stress occurs when job demands are high and job decision latitude is low (χ2 = 18,9; p < 0,01). The multivariate analysis shows that high job demands (OR 4,128; CI 2,102–8,104; p < 0,001), patient load more than 18 patients per day (OR 5,863; CI 1,549–22,188; p < 0,01) and young age of GP's (OR 6,874; CI 1,292–36,582; p < 0,05) can be assigned as significant predictors for psychosocial stress.ConclusionOne half of respondents suffering from work related psychosocial stress. High psychological workload demands combined with low decision latitude has the greatest impact to stress caseness among GP's. High job demands, high patient load and young age of GP's can be assigned as significant predictors of psychosocial stress among GP's.

Highlights

There are number of studies showing that general practice is one of the most stressful workplace among health care workers
Aim of this paper is to explore the psychosocial stress level among Lithuanian general practitioners and to examine the relationship between psychosocial stress and work characteristics
The GP ages ranged from 31 to 66 years. This reflects to the whole GP population in Lithuania

Summary

Introduction

There are number of studies showing that general practice is one of the most stressful workplace among health care workers. Since Baltic States regained independence in 1990, the reform of the health care system took place in which new role and more responsibilities were allocated to general practitioners' in Lithuania. Back in 1989 a Congress of Physicians of Lithuania took place in which the necessity to reform the health care system was discussed. To implement these reforms a National Health Care Conception was adopted in 1991 by the Parliament. The development and reformation of Primary Health Care was underlined as a key factor of a whole Health Care Reform. The main concept argues development of the primary health care services reorienting them from disease centered episodic activities to patient needs, continuity, comprehensiveness, health promotion and disease prevention

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