Work-related behaviour and experience patterns of physicians compared to other professions.
OBJECTIVE
To identify health risk factors and resources of physicians in comparison with other professions.


METHODS
Data of cross-sectional mail surveys conducted among German physicians (n = 344), teachers (n = 5169), policemen (n = 851), prison officers (n = 3653), and starting entrepreneurs (n = 632) were analysed regarding eleven health-relevant dimensions and four behaviour patterns examined by the questionnaire "Work-Related Behaviour and Experience Pattern (AVEM)".


RESULTS
Only 17% of the physicians showed healthy behaviour and experience patterns. With 43%, they scored highest in terms of reduced working motivation. Together with the teachers, they also had the highest scores for resignation and burnout (27%). Satisfaction with life and work as well as social support showed medium scores. Starting entrepreneurs showed the healthiest patterns (45%), but also the highest risk pattern for overexertion (38%).


CONCLUSIONS
It was possible to identify clear risk patterns for profession-related psychosocial symptoms and impairments. The high scores for reduced working motivation demonstrate the need for interventions to improve organisation of health care and individual coping strategies.
Voltmer
Edgar
E
Theologische Hochschule Friedensau, Friedensau, Germany. edgar.voltmer@thh-friedensau.de
Kieschke
Ulf
U
Spahn
Claudia
C
D001290:Attitude; D005178:Faculty; D005858:Germany; D006801:Humans; D007400:Interprofessional Relations; D007588:Job Satisfaction; D009042:Motivation; D010820:Physicians / Q000523:psychology*; D016495:Police / Q000941:ethics*; D011330:Prisons / Q000941:ethics*; D017150:Public Sector; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires