The prevalence, determinants and the role of empathy and religious or spiritual beliefs on job stress, job satisfaction, coping, burnout, and mental health in medical and surgical faculty of a teaching hospital: A cross-sectional survey

OBJECTIVE

Systematically ascertained data on job stress and burnout and their antecedents and mediators in health professionals from low- and middle-income countries are scant.

METHODS

This cross sectional survey, conducted from July 2007 to August 2008, of consenting medical and surgical faculty of a large, charitable, teaching hospital aimed to evaluate: 1) the prevalence and sources of job stress and job satisfaction, and the ways used to cope with stress; 2) the prevalence of burnout and mental distress; and 3) the influence of age, gender, empathy and religious or spiritual beliefs on job stress, satisfaction, mental health and burnout.

RESULTS

Of 345 respondents, high job stress on the Physician Stress and Satisfaction questionnaire were reported by 23%. However, 98% of faculty reported high levels of job satisfaction with deriving intellectual stimulation from teaching and a high level of responsibility identified as important contributory sources. Significantly more respondents aged<45 years compared to older faculty achieved moderate or high scores on Emotional Exhaustion and Depersonalization. General Health Questionnaire-12 scores suggested psychiatric morbidity in 21%, particularly in younger faculty. High job stress was associated with high scores for Emotional Exhaustion and Depersonalization. High scores on the Jefferson Scale of Physician Empathy correlated with high scores of Emotional Exhaustion. Religious or spiritual beliefs strongly influencing attitudes to work were significantly associated with high levels of Personal Accomplishment.

CONCLUSIONS

This study provides data that will inform the design and implementation of interventions to reduce job stress and burnout and improve retention of faculty.