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- Fridner, Ann, et al.
(author)
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Survey on recent suicidal ideation among female university hospital physicians in Sweden and Italy (the HOUPE study) : Cross-sectional associations with work stressors
- 2009
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In: Gender Medicine. - : Elsevier USA. - 1550-8579. ; 6:1, s. 314-328
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background: Suicide rates among physicians are higher than in the general population, and rates among female physicians are particularly high. More female than male physicians report suicidal thoughts, with suicidal ideation being a well-recognized precursor of suicide. The urgent need to find the reasons for suicide risk in female physicians is underscored by society's increasing dependence on this group of health care providers. Objective: The aim of this paper was to identify potential risk and protective factors associated with recent suicidal ideation in female physicians. Methods: A cross-sectional survey analysis of work-related health, organizational culture, career paths, and working conditions was performed among permanently employed female physicians from the HOUPE (Health and Organisation among University Physicians in four European countries) study: 385 in Sweden and 126 in Italy. The main outcome measure was recent (within the prior 12 months) suicidal thoughts. Results: Overall, 13.7% and 14.3% of the participants from Sweden and Italy, respectively, reported suicidal thoughts within the prior 12 months. Among the physicians from Sweden, the most powerful mul-tivariate model for such thoughts included 2 independent variables related to work: degrading experiences/harassment at work (odds ratio [OR], 3.03; 95% CI, 1.48–6.23), and work meetings to discuss stressful situations (OR, 0.36; 95% CI, 0.19–0.69). The model included self-diagnosis and self-treatment as a significant factor. Work meetings to discuss stressful situations were also in the multivariate model for the Italian physicians (OR, 0.21; 95% CI, 0.05–0.86), together with being given work assignments without adequate resources (OR, 5.0; 95% CI, 1.32–18.8). Significant non-work-related factors in the Italian model were younger age and seeking professional help for depression or burnout. Conclusions: In both Sweden and Italy, work stressors have been identified that may increase the risk for suicide for female physicians. A potential protective factor was meetings to discuss stressful work experiences. These findings suggest that such meetings should be more broadly implemented.
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- Fridner, Ann, et al.
(author)
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Work Environment and Recent Suicidal Thoughts Among Male University Hospital Physicians in Sweden and Italy : The Health and Organization Among University Hospital Physicians in Europe (HOUPE) Study
- 2011
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In: Gender Medicine. - : Elsevier BV. - 1550-8579 .- 1878-7398. ; 8:4, s. 269-279
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background: Male and female physicians are at elevated suicide risk. The work environment has become a focus of attention as a possible contributor to this risk. The potential association between work environment and suicidal thoughts has been examined among female physicians in several countries, and significant findings have been reported. Objective: The purpose of this study was to examine the role of the work environment in relation to suicidal thoughts among male university hospital physicians in 2 European countries. Methods: Cross-sectional multivariate analysis was performed to identify significant associations between work-related factors and suicide risk among male physicians from the Health and Organization among University Hospital Physicians in Europe (HOUPE) study. The dependent variable was termed recent suicidal thoughts, which includes having thought about suicide and/or having thought about specific ways to commit suicide within the previous year. Adjusted odds ratios (ORs) and CIs are reported. Results: Of the 456 Swedish (56%) and 241 Italian (39%) male physicians who participated, 12% of the physicians from each country reported affirmatively regarding recent suicidal thoughts. Degrading work experiences were associated with recent suicidal thoughts for the Swedish and Italian physicians (OR = 2.1; 95% CI, 1.01–4.5; OR = 3.3; 95% CI, 1.3–8.0, respectively). Role conflict was associated with recent suicidal thoughts among the Swedish physicians (OR = 1.6; 95% CI, 1.1–2.2). Support at work when difficulties arose appeared to be protective for the Swedish physicians (OR = 0.7; 95% CI, 0.5–0.96). Italian physicians with little control over working conditions had an increased risk of recent suicidal thoughts, whereas confidential discussions about work experiences appeared to be protective (OR = 0.6; 95% CI, 0.4–0.9). Conclusion: Attention should be paid to the work environment as it relates to suicide risk among male university hospital physicians, particularly to bolstering social support and preventing harassment.
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- Løvseth, Lise Tevik, et al.
(author)
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Age and Gender Differences in Authorship among University Hospital Physicians in Sweden, Norway and Italy (The HOUPE Study)
- 2014
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In: British Journal of Medicine and Medical Research. - 2231-0614. ; 4:27, s. 4582-4590
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background: For decades there has been a prominent gender gap in the number publications among physicians in academic medicine. Increased recruitment of women into medicine and a new generation work force that emphasize work-life balance can contribute to narrow this gap. Aims: The present study investigates whether younger hospital physicians may display less gender differences in authorship of scientific publications compared to those older of age. Methodology: Baseline cross-sectional survey data among senior consultants (N=1379) working at public university hospitals in three European countries, participating in the HOUPE study (Health and Organization among University hospital Physicians in Europe). Analysis: Chi-square tests and logistic regression analysis with probit link function. Results: There were differences in number of publications based on country where Italy and Sweden reported a significantly higher number of first- or last authorship compared to Norway (Χ2=30.6, P<.001). Logistic regression analysis confirmed gender differences in number of publications and first-and last authorships (P<.001) across all age categories. The rate of increase in number of publications is higher for men than for women physicians. Conclusion: These findings confirm that scientific production is still more relevant to discuss in terms of gender than generation. It is important to look at factors that are essential to career choice and faculty retention in women in particular but also among women and men in the new generation of physicians.
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- Løvseth, Lise Tevik, et al.
(author)
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Confidentiality as a barrier to support seeking among physicians : The influence of psychosocial work factors in four European hospitals (The HOUPE study)
- 2014
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In: Work. - : IOS Press. - 1051-9815 .- 1875-9270. ; 49:1, s. 113-121
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background: Concerns about protecting patient's privacy can interfere with proper stress adaptation which isassociated with physician's health. It is important to investigate relevant organizational confounders to this phenomenon to enable interventions that can ameliorate the subjective burden of patient confidentiality. Objectives: This study investigatesfactors in the psychosocial work environment that can explain patient confidentiality's prominence in social support seeking among physicians, and if these factors covary differently with support seeking according to country. Participants: University hospital physicians in four European cities (N=2095) in Sweden, Norway, Iceland and Italy participated in a cross-sectional survey. Methods: Questionnaire comprised items on psychosocial work environment, basic socio-demographics, presence of formal and informal meetings at work, and measurement of confidentiality as a barrier for support. Resultats: High role conflict, availability of formal or informal meetings, lack of control over decisions, and lack of control over work pace were predictors of confidentiality as a barrier to support. There were differences between countries in how these factors covaried with confidentiality as a barrier to support. High role conflict was the strongest predictor of confidentiality as a barrier to support across all samples. Conclusions: Psychosocial work factors predicted confidentiality as a barrier to support seeking among physicians. It is important to create routines and an organizational framework that ensures both the patient's right to privacy and physician's ability to cope with emotional demanding situations from work.
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- Wall, Maja, et al.
(author)
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Suicidal ideation among surgeons in Italy and Sweden : a cross-sectional study
- 2014
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In: BMC Psychology. - : Springer Science+Business Media B.V.. - 2050-7283. ; 2, s. 53-
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background: Suicidal ideation is more prevalent among physicians, compared to the population in general, but little is known about the factors behind surgeons’ suicidal ideation. A surgeon’s work environment can be competitive and characterised by degrading experiences, which could contribute to burnout, depression and even thoughts of suicide. Being a surgeon has been reported to be predictor for not seeking help when psychological distressed. The aim of the present study was to investigate to what extent surgeons in Italy and Sweden are affected by suicidal ideation, and how suicidal ideation can be associated with psychosocial work conditions. Methods: A cross-sectional study of surgeons was performed in Italy (N=149) and Sweden (N=272), where having suicidal ideation was the outcome variable. Work-related factors, such as harassment, depression and social support, were also measured. Results: Suicidal ideation within the previous twelve months was affirmatively reported by 18% of the Italian surgeons, and by 12% of the Swedish surgeons in the present study. The strongest association with having recent suicidal ideation for both countries was being subjected to degrading experiences/harassment at work by a senior physician. Sickness presenteeism, exhaustion and disengagement were related to recent suicidal ideation among Italian surgeons, while role conflicts and sickness presenteeism were associated with recent suicidal ideation in the Swedish group. For both countries, regular meetings to discuss situations at work were found to be protective. Conclusions: A high percentage of surgeons at two university hospitals in Italy and Sweden reported suicidal ideation during the year before the investigation. This reflects a tough workload, including sickness presenteeism, harassment at work, exhaustion/disengagement and role conflicts. Regular meetings to discuss work situations might be protective.
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