Suicide among Health Care Professionals—An Indian Perspective

Suicidal ideation and their relationship with job satisfaction and job strain among Jordanian hospitals' healthcare professionals: a cross-sectional study

Suicidal ideation is a major health problem that occurs in response to complex interactions among psychological, sociocultural, and environmental factors. The phenomenon of suicidal ideation among healthcare professionals is still shrouded in mystery in Jordanian society, and there is still a scarcity of studies on its relationship with job strain and job satisfaction has been examined in the Arab world. Therefore, to fill this gap, this study aimed to reveal the prevalence of suicidal ideation among Jordanian hospitals health care professionals, and its relationship to job satisfaction and job strain. Additionally, how some sociodemographic factors were correlated with suicidal ideation levels, including age, sex, monthly income, occupation, years of experience, and sector type. Data were collected through a survey including sociodemographic characteristics, Suicidal ideation Scale (SIS), Job Satisfaction Survey (JSS), and Demand Control Support Questionnaire (DCSQ). The survey was distributed among 910 physicians and nurses of both sexes in public and private Jordanian hospitals. The survey was conducted using an anonymous online platform via Google Forms between October 2022 and December 2023. In light of the strain theory of suicide (STS), our results showed that physicians and nurses reported low levels of suicidal ideation and job satisfaction, with high levels of job strain. Suicidal ideation was positively correlated with job strain and negatively correlated with job satisfaction. Job satisfaction is negatively correlated with job strain. Job satisfaction was a significant mediator between job strain and suicidal ideation. Greater attention should be paid to the work environment in healthcare, particularly to enhance social support, increase job satisfaction levels, reduce job strain, and provide extensive training on effective prevention strategies for suicidal ideation and behaviour in the workplace. Additionally, policies and practices related to the health sector should be modified to create stable, healthy, and safe relationships and work environments.

A Survey on Factors Influencing the Work-Family-Health Balance of an Interventional Radiologist

Aim: Burnout and stress-related health disorders are on the rise among physicians. The aim of this study is to report the results of a survey on factors affecting the work-life balance of interventional radiologists (IR). Material: The survey consisted of 30 questions focusing on work, family, and personal health. The questionnaire addressed knowledge, attitude, and practice. This online survey was sent to IRs across the globe and the responses were analyzed by three IRs (SH, SNK, SK). Results: On univariate analysis, the major risk factors for burnout were presence of weekend duties ( n  = 91, 98.9%, p  = 0.02), absence of support group at workplace ( n  = 36, 39.1%, p  = 0.005), having tough time with administration ( n  = 61, 66.3%, p  = 0.001), not able to spend quality time on family ( n  = 30, 32.6%, p  = 0.035), and inability to find time to do things that one enjoys ( n  = 53, 57.6%, p  = 0.0002). However, multivariate analysis revealed that those having tough time with administration (odds ratio = 2.77 [95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.12-6.48], p  = 0.02) and those who could not find time to do things one enjoys (odds ratio = 4.79 [95% CI: 1.42-16.1], p  = 0.01) were only statistically significant. Conclusion: Burnout is common among IRs and is considered a significant issue that needs to be addressed. Teamwork, a support structure for major events, healthy lifestyle, and dedicated time for family may combat the burnout.

Increasing trend of deaths due to suicide attributable to mental disorders and substance use (disorders) in India

In this article we aim to assess the change in the deaths due to suicide attributable to mental disorders and substance use (disorders) in India over the past 26 years. We also aim to make projections over the coming years. For the deaths due to suicide attributable to mental disorders there was a biquadratic increasing trend with equations predicting 85.97%, 90.76% and 85.79% variance in the males, females and total deaths, respectively. There was a quadratic increase explaining 94.83% variance in males, 61.79% in females and 95.41% variance in deaths due to suicide attributable to substance use (disorders).

The Prevalence of Violence Against Resident Doctors and Its Subsequent Effects on Patient Management in a Tertiary Care Hospital in Delhi, India

Introduction Workplace violence (WPV) is a significant problem for healthcare professionals across the world, regardless of whether they work in developed or developing countries. Studies have shown that in India, up to 75% of doctors have experienced some form of violence in the workplace. The purpose of the present study was to examine the extent of violence against doctors and its impact on patient management. Methodology This cross-sectional study was conducted in a tertiary care hospital in New Delhi in June 2022. A total of 326 resident doctors from six departments were selected using stratified random sampling. Data were collected using a semi-structured interview schedule and a pre-validated questionnaire. Statistical analysis was done using Stata 17, and ethical clearance was obtained from the Institute Ethical Committee. Result Workplace violence was prevalent among healthcare professionals, with 80.4% (95% confidence interval (CI): 75.6%-84.5%) experiencing verbal abuse and 21.7% (95% CI: 17.4%-84.5%) experiencing physical violence. Perceived delays in treatment and patient deaths were the most common causes of violence. Most participants were hesitant to report WPV due to time-consuming reporting processes and a lack of organisational support. WPV had a negative impact on doctors' mental and personal well-being, with 73.3% reporting its negative impact. WPV has led to a decrease in the provision of surgical and medical interventions. Conclusion The study findings suggest that a significant proportion of doctors in a tertiary care hospital in Delhi encounter some form of workplace violence. Despite the high incidence of WPV, reporting of these events remains low due to inadequate support and deficient reporting procedures within healthcare organisations. The negative impact of WPV is not limited to the physicians' psycho-social well-being but extends to their approach to patient care as well. Therefore, taking appropriate actions to prevent WPV is crucial for ensuring the safety and well-being of healthcare professionals and improving patient outcomes.