Occupational stress and coping strategies of registrars, working within the department of anaesthesiology, affiliated to the University of the Witwatersrand
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Date
2015
Authors
Redelinghuys, Cara
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Abstract
Anaesthesiology has been identified as a stressful speciality. Anaesthesiology registrars are more vulnerable to workplace stressors, and experience higher rates burnout and stress compared to their senior colleagues. There is a paucity of information regarding stress and coping strategies amongst South African anaesthesiologists. Suicides within the Department of Anaesthesiology at University of the Witwatersrand, potentially related to workplace stress, prompted the need to identify stress and common coping strategies.
The aim of this study was to describe the occupational stress and coping strategies of registrars working within the Department of Anaesthesiology at the University of Witwatersrand.
A descriptive, prospective, contextual study design was used. Two validated questionnaires, the Perceived Stress Score (PSS); a ten item Likert scale and Coping Orientation and Problem Experience (COPE) questionnaire; a 60 item Likert scale, were combined to describe the stress and coping of anaesthesiology registrars. The questionnaires were distributed at the departmental academic meetings from May 2014 to November 2014. The sample was realised by the response of 52 registrars (47%), which fell below the recommended number to adequately power the secondary objectives of this study.
The overall PSS score was (21.48), with slightly higher PSS scores observed amongst females (22.9) compared to males (19.79). The registrars made use of all the fifteen coping strategies described in the COPE questionnaire. Denial, substance abuse and behaviour disengagement were the least adopted strategies. Positive reinterpretation and growth, use of instrumental social support, active coping and planning were the most commonly utilised strategies.
Anaesthesiology registrars working in Wits are more stressed than select communities in South Africa. Unmanaged stress is a worldwide source of suffering and illness within anaesthesiology; this study adds to this statement reinforcing the increasing importance of this issue. The coping strategies adopted by anaesthesiology registrars are varied and need to be encouraged especially amongst other colleagues who are not coping.
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A research report submitted to the Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Medicine in the branch of Anaesthesiology
Johannesburg, 2015