Prevalence and associated factors of depressive sy

Authors: JiaNa Wang Wei Sun TieShuang Chi Hui Wu Lie Wang

Publish Date: 2010/01/30

Volume: 83, Issue: 8, Pages: 905-911

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Abstract

Doctors the major workforce in hospitals are doing heavy emotional and physical work which may lead to depressive symptoms However in China few studies are available pertaining to the prevalence and associated factors of depressive symptoms among doctors The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of depressive symptoms and to explore its associated factors among Chinese doctors in public hospitalsThis crosssectional study was performed during the period of September/October 2008 The study population comprised of 1890 doctors registered and working in the 20 national hospitals in Liaoning province northeast of China A questionnaire that comprised depressive symptoms assessed by the Chinese Version of the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale CESD demographic factors work conditions occupational stress and coping strategies was distributed to these doctors A total of 1488 effective respondents became our subjects effective response rate 787 Multivariate logistic regression was used to explore the factors related to depressive symptomsThe prevalence of depressive symptoms among doctors was 653 Multivariate logistic analyses showed that high role insufficiency OR 215 95 CI 166–278 worse doctor–patient relationship OR 207 95 CI 162–264 having a chronic disease OR 173 95 CI 131–227 serious role boundary OR 154 95 CI 121–200 and role overload OR 142 95 CI 111–181 were positively associated with depressive symptoms whereas adequate rational coping OR 058 95 CI 045–076 and social support OR 075 95 CI 057–098 were negatively associated with depressive symptomsMost Chinese doctors probably have depressive symptoms Role insufficiency doctor–patient relationship and rational coping seemed to be crucial in relation to depressive symptoms Efficient interventions such as taking further education course improving communications with patients and improving the ability of rational coping should be considered by health administrators aiming at improving the quality of Chinese doctors’ mental health from the view point of depressive symptoms

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