Effect of workplace stress on the perceived health of resident doctors in Nigeria

Abstract

Background: Resident doctors’ health and wellbeing has recently become the focus of international concern, as they are very important members of the healthcare system. The medical workplace is a complex environment where the doctors respond differently.
Objective: The objective of this study was to assess workplace stress among the resident doctors, examine their perceived health status, and determine the effect of workplace stress on their perceived health status.
Method: The study was a cross-sectional study conducted among resident doctors at University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, Nigeria across all the specialties over a three-month period, from 1st March to 31st May, 2019. Two hundred and thirty-two eligible and consenting resident doctors were selected by stratified random sampling and data was collected using interviewer-guided selfadministered questionnaire. Data was analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 23.
Results: The result showed that 144 (62.1%) of the resident doctors experienced workplace stress and 108 (46.6%) resident doctors perceived their health as poor. Workplace stress, years in residency program, designation, and work hours on least busy day at work were all significantly associated with perceived health status of the resident doctors, however, only workplace stress could independently predict poor perceived health status of the resident doctors.
Conclusion: It is therefore important to prevent and manage workplace stress in order to improve the perceived health status of resident doctors.