Measuring Stress in Young Doctors

Abstract

Objective: To aim of our study is to determine the level of stress in young doctors categorizing it
on yearly and specialty basis and also to determine personal factors like gender and marriage. So
that we can counter this problem to improve patient care/ clinical management and finally health
care delivery system.
Material and Methods: Across sectional survey of resident doctors in different specialties was
conducted in Jinnah Hospital Lahore. The questionnaire we used i.e. AKUADS along with a
performa for the collection of data of the participants. AKUADS is a self reporting scale in urdu
language which has been designed and validated for study in our population.
Results: There were 200 postgraduate resident doctors of which 52 % male and 48 % female
were recruited in the study. Mean age was 27 years, minimum age was 23 years, and maximum
age was 36 years. Of the randomized data, 32 % are from 1st year resident, 24% from 2nd year,
33% from 3rd year and 11% from 4th year. 56% were from medicine and allied and 44 % were from
surgery and allied. In our participants who had scored less than 19 i.e. not suffering from
depressive and anxiety symptoms on AKUADS were 58% (67.3% male and 47.9% female).
Participants scoring between 20 to 40 i.e. mild were 34% (25%male and 43.8% female).
Participants scoring between 41 to 60 i.e. moderate were 6% (7.7% male and 4.2% female).
Participants scoring between 61 to 80 i.e. severe were 2% (0%male and 1% female).
Conclusions: Frequency of high degree of anxiety and depressive symptoms can be considered
as bad indicator of deteriorating health care system and need for urgent concern and action to
change the current situation.