10779/rcsi.10771295.v1 Blanaid Hayes Blanaid Hayes Lucia Prihodova Lucia Prihodova Gillian Walsh Gillian Walsh Frank Doyle Frank Doyle Sally Doherty Sally Doherty What’s up doc? A national cross-sectional study of psychological wellbeing of hospital doctors in Ireland. Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland 2019 Psychological Distress Wellbeing Hospital Doctors Self-Stigma Ireland. Psychology and Cognitive Sciences not elsewhere classified 2019-11-22 15:32:32 Journal contribution https://repository.rcsi.com/articles/journal_contribution/What_s_up_doc_A_national_cross-sectional_study_of_psychological_wellbeing_of_hospital_doctors_in_Ireland_/10771295 <p><strong>Objectives</strong> To measure levels of psychological distress, psychological wellbeing and self-stigma in hospital doctors in Ireland.</p> <p><strong>Design</strong> National cross-sectional study of randomised sample of hospital doctors. Participants provided sociodemographic data (age, sex, marital status), work grade (consultant, higher/basic specialist trainee), specialty and work hours and completed well-being questionnaires (the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale, WHO Well-being Index, General Health Questionnaire) and single-item scales on self-rated health and self-stigma.</p> <p><strong>Setting</strong> Irish publicly funded hospitals and residential institutions.</p> <p><strong>Participants</strong> 1749 doctors (response rate of 55%). All hospital specialties were represented except radiology.</p> <p><strong>Results</strong> Half of participants were men (50.5%). Mean hours worked per week were 57 hours. Over half (52%) rated their health as very good/excellent, while 50.5% reported positive subjective well-being (WHO-5). Over a third (35%) experienced psychological distress (General Health Questionnaire 12). Severe/extremely severe symptoms of depression, anxiety and stress were evident in 7.2%, 6.1% and 9.5% of participants (Depression, Anxiety, Stress Scale 21). Symptoms of distress, depression, anxiety and stress were significantly higher and levels of well-being were significantly lower in trainees compared with consultants, and this was not accounted for by differences in sociodemographic variables. Self-stigma was present in 68.4%.</p> <p><strong>Conclusions</strong> The work hours of doctors working in Irish hospitals were in excess of European Working Time Directive’s requirements. Just over half of hospital doctors in Ireland had positive well-being. Compared with international evidence, they had higher levels of psychological distress but slightly lower symptoms of depression and anxiety. Two-thirds of respondents reported self-stigma, which is likely to be a barrier to accessing care. These findings have implications for the design of support services for doctors, for discussions on quality of patient care and for future research.</p>