Abstract
INTRODUCTION: It is well acknowledged that health workers experience higher level of stress and
stress related health problems than other occupational groups. Thus, measuring physician stress and
understanding its related factors is a topic of importance with public health implications.
OBJECTIVES: To measure the level of stress and to identify the socio-demographic and practice factors
associated with stress among physicians in Aseer region.
STUDY DESIGN: Cross sectional study.
STUDY SETTING: Physicians in government health service, Aseer region, Saudi Arabia
METHODOLOGY: A self administered questionnaire based on Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) was used in
the study. Study included 375 participants across three levels (resident, specialist, consultant) and six
broad specialties (Surgical, Medical, Obstetrics / Gynaecology, Paediatrics, Dermatology, Emergency &
ICU); selected following a two stage sampling procedure.
RESULTS: A total of 303 physicians returned completely filled questionnaires. A high mean stress score
was reported (18.07±5.1). Though highest mean stress scores were found for dermatologists (21.00), no
significant differences in stress was found based upon nationality, smoking status, presence of any
chronic illness and specialty. Significantly more stress was found in females (df =301, t=3.68, p˂0.001);
and singles as compared to married physicians (df=301, t=4.52, p˂0.001). ANOVA across multiple groups
revealed significant difference in stress scores between younger age groups with F (2,300) =9.402;
p=˂0.001, η²=0.05; mean=(19.10±4.91) and other age groups, and also between residents, F(2,300)=9.76;
p˂0.001; η²=0.06, mean=19.34±4.81 as compared to specialists (17.04±5.30) and consultants (16.56±5.11).
CONCLUSION: Physicians in Aseer region experience high level of stress. Gender, age, marital status
and position are significantly related to stress.
Aesha Farheen Siddiqui, Mousa Ahmed Al Zaalah, Aishah Ali Alqahtani, Mohammad Ali S Alqahtani. (2017) Perceived Stress and its Associated Sociodemographic Factors among Physicians Working in Aseer Region of Saudi Arabia, Journal of Liaquat University of Medical and Health Sciences, Volume-16, Issue-1.
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