Frequency of Irritable Bowel Syndrome Among Healthcare Personnel

Assessing the relationship between burnout syndrome and irritable bowel syndrome among medical health providers and medical students in Saudi Arabia

Burnout syndrome, characterized by chronic unmanageable workplace stress, has been linked to lower gastrointestinal disorders, including irritable bowel syndrome. However, the relationship between burnout syndrome and irritable bowel syndrome among medical health providers and medical students in Saudi Arabia has not been fully explored. This cross-sectional correlational study was conducted in Southern Saudi Arabia from 2021 to 2022 and involved 931 medical health providers and medical students who completed an electronic questionnaire. The study assessed the presence and severity of burnout and irritable bowel syndrome and examined their relationship. Burnout syndrome was evaluated using the Maslach Burnout Inventory-Student Survey (MBI-SS), while irritable bowel syndrome criteria and severity were assessed using validated tools. The study found that 85% of medical health providers and medical students experienced high levels of burnout and irritable bowel syndrome severity, with physicians and nurses mainly affected. Occupational exhaustion was high in 44.4% of participants, while depersonalization was high in 53% of participants. Personal accomplishment was low in 73.5% of participants. Mild, moderate, and severe irritable bowel syndrome was reported in 25.6%, 23.8%, and 12% of participants, respectively. The study highlights a significant association between burnout syndrome and irritable bowel syndrome severity among medical health providers and medical students in Saudi Arabia. These findings underscore the importance of developing effective interventions to prevent and manage burnout syndrome and related health issues among healthcare professionals and medical students in the region.

ASSOCIATION BETWEEN PSYCHOLOGICAL UPSET AND IRRITABLE BOWEL SYNDROME AMONG NURSING STUDENTS AT KSA

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a fairly common disorder that occurs in the general population. IBS is a functional bowel disorder associated with decreased work productivity. The aim of this study is to investigate the relationship between psychological upset and irritable bowel syndrome among nursing students at the Hafr Albatin University king Saudi Arabia. A descriptive cross-sectional research design on 223 student nurses from Hafr Al Batin university. One tool is divided into three main parts; demographic data, student's psychological upset, and irritable bowel syndrome manifestations sheet. According to the results of the study there is a statistically significant correlation between students' psychological stiffness and manifestations of irritable bowel syndrome (p

Prevalence and Influencing Factors of Irritable Bowel Syndrome in Medical Staff: A Meta-Analysis

BACKGROUND

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a common functional digestive tract disease worldwide, with a high prevalence among medical staff. The purpose of this study is to systematically evaluate the prevalence and influencing factors of IBS in medical staff.

METHODS

We searched English online databases, including PubMed, The Cochrane Library, Web of Science, Embase, and EBSCOhost. The retrieval time was from database establishment to May of 2021. We screened the literature according to inclusion and exclusion criteria, extracted the relevant information, and evaluated the research quality. A meta-analysis was performed using the Stata 16.0 and Review Manager 5.4.1 software.

RESULTS

A total of 11 English studies from seven countries were included in this study, including 3,360 medical staff. The results of the meta-analysis showed an overall prevalence of IBS among medical staff of 16% [95%CI (0.15 ~ 0.17)] and that shift work (OR 2.27)), poor sleep quality (OR 4.27), and female gender (OR 2.29) are the major influencing factors of medical staff suffering from IBS.

CONCLUSIONS

The prevalence of irritable bowel syndrome among medical staff is relatively high, and hospitals can start by looking for targeted interventions from the highly related factors of IBS among medical staff such as shift work patterns, females, and poor sleep quality.

Smoking Prevalence among Physicians: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

BACKGROUND

Smoking is a major public health problem. Although physicians have a key role in the fight against smoking, some of them are still smoking. Thus, we aimed to conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis on the prevalence of smoking among physicians.

METHODS

PubMed, Cochrane, and Embase databases were searched. The prevalence of smoking among physicians was estimated and stratified, where possible, by specialties, continents, and periods of time. Then, meta-regressions were performed regarding putative influencing factors such as age and sex.

RESULTS

Among 246 studies and 497,081 physicians, the smoking prevalence among physicians was 21% (95CI 20 to 23%). Prevalence of smoking was 25% in medical students, 24% in family practitioners, 18% in surgical specialties, 17% in psychiatrists, 16% in medical specialties, 11% in anesthesiologists, 9% in radiologists, and 8% in pediatricians. Physicians in Europe and Asia had a higher smoking prevalence than in Oceania. The smoking prevalence among physicians has decreased over time. Male physicians had a higher smoking prevalence. Age did not influence smoking prevalence.

CONCLUSION

Prevalence of smoking among physicians is high, around 21%. Family practitioners and medical students have the highest percentage of smokers. All physicians should benefit from targeted preventive strategies.