title: The impact of the changing health care environment on the health and well-being of faculty at four medical schools.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Increased pressure for clinical and research productivity and decreased control over the work environment have been reported to have adverse impacts on academic faculty in limited studies. The authors examined whether work-related stressors in academic medicine negatively affected the physical and mental health, as well as life and job satisfaction, of academic medical school faculty.
  
  
  METHODS
  A 136-item self-administered anonymous questionnaire modified from a small 1984 study was distributed to 3,519 academic faculty at four U.S. medical schools following institutional review board approval at each school. Validated scales measuring depression, anxiety, work strain, and job and life satisfaction; a checklist of common physical and mental health symptoms; and questions about the impact of institutional financial stability, colleague attrition, and other work-related perceptions were used. Responses were analyzed by sex, academic rank, age, marital status, faculty discipline, and medical school.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Responses were received from 1,951 full-time academic physicians and basic science faculty, a 54.3% response rate. Twenty percent of faculty, almost equal by sex, had significant levels of depressive symptoms, with higher levels in younger faculty. Perception of financial instability was associated with greater levels of work strain, depression, and anxiety. Significant numbers of faculty acknowledged that work-related strain negatively affected their mental health and job satisfaction, but not life satisfaction or physical health. Specialties were differentially affected.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  High levels of depression, anxiety, and job dissatisfaction-especially in younger faculty-raise concerns about the well-being of academic faculty and its impact on trainees and patient care. Increased awareness of these stressors should guide faculty support and development programs to ensure productive, stable faculty.
authors.affiliation: Educational and Academic Affairs, Drexel University College of Medicine, 2900 Queen Lane, Philadelphia, PA 19129., USA. Barbara.Schindler@drexelmed.edu
authors.forename: Barbara A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Schindler
authors.forename: Dennis H
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Novack
authors.forename: Diane G
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Cohen
authors.forename: Joel
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yager
authors.forename: Dora
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Nicholas J
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: Shaheen
authors.forename: Phyllis
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Guze
authors.forename: LuAnn
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Wilkerson
authors.forename: Douglas A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Drossman
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D005180:Faculty, Medical; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007588:Job Satisfaction; D008297:Male; D008511:Medicine; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D009936:Organizational Innovation; D010559:Personnel Management; D012307:Risk Factors; D012577:Schools, Medical / Q000458:organization & administration*; D013038:Specialization; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D014481:United States; D016526:Workload