title: Stress among Croatian physicians: comparison between physicians working in emergency medical service and health centers: pilot study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the sources of stress, its intensity, frequency, and psychophysical and behavioral reactions in physicians working in emergency medical service and those working in health centers.
  
  
  METHODS
  To a convenience sample of primary care physicians employed in emergency medical service (n = 79) and health centers (n = 81), we administered the list of demographic questions, Scale of Sources of Stress, Scale of Intentions of Leaving the Job, and Scale of Psychosomatic Symptoms.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Emergency medicine physicians experienced significantly more intense and more frequent uncontrollable working situations, conflict between work and family roles, and unfavorable relationships with coworkers than physicians working in health centers. They were also more likely to leave the job during the next few years and/or change jobs within the profession (scores 2.2 ± 0.9 vs 1.7 ± 0.9 out of maximum 5.0, F = 12.2, P = 0.001) and they had a poorer physical health status (scores 1.8 ± 0.5 vs 1.7 ± 0.5 out of maximum 4.0, F = 5.3, P = 0.023).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Physicians working in emergency medical service experience more stress in almost all aspects of their work than physicians working in health centers. They also have a stronger intention of leaving the job, which decreases with years of experience.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University in Zadar, Zadar, Croatia. ljgregov@unizd.hr
authors.forename: Ljiljana
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Gregov
authors.forename: Ana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kovačević
authors.forename: Ana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Slišković
mesh_terms: D000554:Ambulatory Care Facilities / Q000592:standards*; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002055:Burnout, Professional / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D017523:Croatia / Q000453:epidemiology; D004632:Emergency Medical Services / Q000592:standards*; D054541:Family Conflict; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D007588:Job Satisfaction; D058007:Physicians, Primary Care / Q000523:psychology / Q000592:standards; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011602:Psychophysiologic Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D017132:Workplace / Q000458:organization & administration