Psychosocial risk factors and perceived health of medical residents.

Background: Several investigations have shown that residents are especially vulnerable to work stress, with the greatest relevance placed on psychosocial factors.

Aims: To investigate the relationship between psychosocial risk factors and general, mental and vitality perceived health and job satisfaction among residents in a teaching hospital for a preventive intervention program.

Methods: This is a retrospective cross-sectional study. Data on psychosocial factors (F-PSICO-INSHT-4.0), perceived general, mental and vitality health (36-item Short Form Survey questionnaire), and overall job satisfaction were collected from an anonymous, online survey (2018). Univariate and multivariate analysis was done.

Results: The survey was answered by 107 residents (31% response rate). Female residents had worse perceived mental health than males (P < 0.05). Residents showed a worsening of vitality from the second year to the residency end (P < 0.05). No gender or year of residency differences were found related to general health. Job satisfaction worsened during years of residency (P < 0.01), with no gender differences. The psychosocial factors identified as potential risk factors were workload, emotional demands, participation/supervision and role performance. Multivariate linear regression models showed that compensation and role clarity explain 18% of the variation in general health score (adjusted-R2 = 0.183); role clarity, emotional demands, interpersonal conflicts and difficulty at work the 32% of the variation in mental health outcome (adjusted-R2 = 0.315); and compensation, time pressure, gender and supervision the 32% of the variability of vitality outcome (adjusted-R2 = 0.320).

Conclusions: These findings highlight the importance of psychosocial risk factors in perceived health, and overall satisfaction in medical residents during their specialist training.