Evaluation of the impact of work-related stress on anesthesiologists and intensive care physicians

Abstract

Introduction • Work-related stress is a major problem for employees and society. It is the second most common workrelated health problem and affects 40 millions people in the European Union. Purpose • To evaluate the impact of work-related stress on anesthesiologists and ICU physicians. Material and methods • A total of 80 physicians working in 4 university clinics in Chișinău participated in the study. • Work-related stress was assessed using the 12-item General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12). The cut-off point 3 was used to determine the respondents’ workrelated stress. • Statistical analysis were done using Fisher's exact test.Results 33 (41%) anesthesiologists and intensive care physicians suffered from work-related stress. They more frequently experienced anxiety (p=0.030), irritability (p=0.023), insomnia (p=0.005), headaches (p=0.039), fatigue (p<0.001), palpitations (p=0.002), excessive sweating (p=0.007), and nausea (p=0.008). The results of our study showed that physicians suffering from work-related stress more frequently had memory problems (p=0.014), concentration problems (p<0.001), and more frequently consumed tranquilizers (p=0.026)(Fig.1). Conclusions. Work-related stress negatively affects anesthesiologists' and intensive care physicians' health, and it is necessary to take steps to reduce stress in the workplace.