Pilot study on professional gratification and health
A survey of Ukrainian oncologists in crisis situations
Background:
Oncologists are subject to high psychological workloads generally applicable to the medical field and typically in oncology, which can mean variably strong stress reactions. Times of crisis can increase the feeling of stress. Many studies have confirmed the association between effort-reward imbalance (ERI) or job satisfaction crises in normal working life and various illnesses. Due to a lack of study data, the aim of this pilot study was to determine the subjective mental and physical health of Ukrainian oncologists during these crisis situations. The question of the extent to which associations exist between exhaustion and reward as well as overcommitment and the health of the medical profession was explored.
Methods:
In this pilot study 23 oncologists (12 men and 11 women) between the ages of 26 and 72 years (mean age 47.4 plus/minus 12.74 years) voluntarily participated. The mean years of professional activity was 19.0 plus/minus 11.92 years. Data were collected using the effort-reward imbalance (ERI) questionnaire with questions on overcommitment (OC) and the complaints questionnaire (BFB). A classification between respondents with a normal ERI (smaller/equal 1) or high ERI (bigger than 1) was performed for the group comparisons of health complaints. In addition, a correlation analysis was performed between the ERI subscales, OC, and the BFB scales.
Results:
The distribution of age and years of occupation was identical across the ERI groups. With a range of 0.20–1.76 points, some oncologists (39.1%) had a high ERI. The overall sample showed average ERI scores (0.93 plus/minus 0.40 points). Elevated OC (bigger than 16 points) was found in 26.1% (n = 6) of the total sample and 1 subject also had an ERI bigger than 1. All 6 oncologists with ERI bigger than 1 (n = 6) showed more psychological, physical and overall symptoms in the BFB but this was not significant compared with the group with a normal ERI. Neurotic scores in BFB were detected in 39.1% (n = 9) of the total sample (4 subjects with ERI bigger than 1). The OC and BFB scales did not correlate with ERI subscales.
Discussion:
The data show a high prevalence of complaints (39.1%) in the group with normal ERI (35.7%) as well as in the group with high ERI (44,4 %). High levels of stress reactions can have counteracted for different lengths of time. Therefore, occupational health maintenance measures are needed, especially in crisis situations. In this context occupational medicine in Ukraine could benefit from an exchange of experience on holistic occupational healthcare with Germany.
