The research team on occupational stress and “Burnout” to which Paraguayan doctors are subjected, was made up of teachers from FCM UNA: Prof. Dr. Julio Torales, Prof. Dr. Raúl Real, Dr. Marcelo O’Higgins, Dr. Noelia Ruiz Díaz, Dr. José Almirón and Lic. Iván Barrios; from the University of the Pacific: Dr. Ximena Paredes; from the National Union of Physicians: Dr. Rosanna González; from the National University of Caaguazú: Dr. Carlos Ríos; from the University of São Paulo, Brazil, Prof. João Castaldelli-Maia; and from the University of Foggia, Italy, Prof. Dr. Antonio Ventriglio. The research was published in the Irish Journal of Psychological Medicine, from Cambridge University Press.
Medical professionals often experience a high degree of job stress, running the risk of developing unhealthy behaviors, poor physical and mental health, emotional exhaustion and job loss due to the consequences of job stress, explained Prof. Dr. Julio Torales, head of the Department of Mental Health of the FCMUNA, Hospital de Clínicas.
The research included 747 medical professionals from Paraguay. We look for demographic and employment data, COVID-19 health status, and mental health and substance use status. Long-term stress can lead to Burnout syndrome, which is characterized by emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and low personal fulfillment. In Paraguay, Burnout syndrome has been reported in both professionals and medical students.
I also read: They arrest “enlivened” who loaded a full tank and ran without paying: now it will be more expensive
However, the rate of seeking help to cope with work and emotional stress remains low among medical professionals, and some studies report that only one in four depressed doctors seek professional help.
“Health professionals must know when and how to ask for help, and we must be able to identify the barriers to accessing it. These barriers can include the stigma of work stress, either at the individual or social level”, assured Prof. Dr. Torales.
The Hospital de Clínicas currently operates on the UNA campus in San Lorenzo. Photo: IP Agency.
The results
Of the 747 physicians surveyed, 66.7% were women. Their age ranged from 24 to 77 years, with a mean of 38.8 and a median of 37 years. Regarding the medical training obtained, the most frequent was a postgraduate degree in a medical specialty. Of the participants, 82.3% provided most of their services as a doctor in the public or state sector.
As for the years of professional practice, this ranged between 1 and 50 years, with an average of 12.7. The mean number of weekly hours worked by physicians was 53.6 (range between 4 and 100 per week).
It may interest you: “Marito knows how to speak but he lacks balls to fight organized crime”
Health status regarding COVID-19. Of the participants, 67.5% have been in the front line of care for patients with COVID-19, 44.7% have been sick with COVID-19, and 74.8% have lost a family member, close friend or partner due to COVID-19 infection. Of the physicians surveyed, 93% had received at least two doses of a COVID-19 vaccine.
Mental health status and substance use. Of the physicians surveyed, 18.5% have been diagnosed with a mental health condition, 12.9% consult with a mental health professional, and 13.4% regularly use psychotropic medications.
Work, income, and family and intimate relationships were the main sources of stress for Paraguayan doctors.
Regarding the use of non-prescribed, over-the-counter or mood-enhancing substances, 8.7% of physicians declared using them. The most used substances were benzodiazepines (60%), followed by antidepressants (13.2%). 9.8% of the surveyed participants declared having smoked.
Illustrative photo.
alcohol consumption. Of the 747 participants, 57.6% declared having consumed alcoholic beverages. 19.3% of them obtained a score ≥2 in the CAGE questionnaire to detect problematic alcohol consumption.
Burnout and perceived barriers to treatment
Almost 9 out of 10 physicians surveyed presented Burnout syndrome, with clinically significant scores of emotional exhaustion and detachment being found in 88.1% of the participants.
Structural stigma (policies and practices that restrict the opportunities or well-being of the stigmatized person) was the most perceived by the participants. Likewise, the SSOS-D (new scale, called “Stigma of Occupational Stress Scale for Doctors” (SOSS-D) was validated in Spanish.
In conclusion, the study showed that the Spanish version of the SSOS-D has good psychometric properties. Likewise, a high frequency of burnout syndrome was reported in Paraguayan doctors, in addition to detecting many factors associated with burnout. “The findings suggest the urgent need to establish permanent programs for the prevention and care of mental health among doctors and other health professionals vulnerable to Burnout.”, concluded Prof. Dr. Julio Torales.
Dr. Julio Torales. Photo: Courtesy.
