title: High occupational stress and low career satisfaction of Korean surgeons.
abstract: Surgery is a demanding and stressful field in Korea. Occupational stress can adversely affect the quality of care, decrease job satisfaction, and potentially increase medical errors. The aim of this study was to investigate the occupational stress and career satisfaction of Korean surgeons. We have conducted an electronic survey of 621 Korean surgeons for the occupational stress. Sixty-five questions were used to assess practical and personal characteristics and occupational stress using the Korean occupational stress scale (KOSS). The mean KOSS score was 49.31, which was higher than the average of Korean occupational stress (45.86) or that of other specialized professions (46.03). Young age, female gender, long working hours, and frequent night duties were significantly related to the higher KOSS score. Having spouse, having hobby and regular exercise decreased the KOSS score. Multiple linear regression analysis showed that long working hours and regular exercise were the independent factors associated with the KOSS score. Less than 50% of surgeons answered that they would become a surgeon again. Most surgeons (82.5%) did not want to recommend their child follow their career. Korean Surgeons have high occupational stress and low level of career satisfaction.
authors: Department of Surgery, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors: Sang Hee
authors: 0000-0002-6097-8831
authors: SH
authors: Kang
authors: Department of Surgery, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors: Yoon Jung
authors: 0000-0002-3796-6699
authors: YJ
authors: Boo
authors: Department of Medical Statistics, Clinical Research Center, Asan Medical Center, Seoul, Korea.
authors: Ji Sung
authors: 0000-0001-8194-3462
authors: JS
authors: Lee
authors: Department of Surgery, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors: Hyung Joon
authors: 0000-0002-7830-5352
authors: HJ
authors: Han
authors: Department of Surgery, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors: Cheol Woong
authors: 0000-0002-0776-8202
authors: CW
authors: Jung
authors: Department of Surgery, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors: Chong Suk
authors: 0000-0003-0050-6549
authors: CS
authors: Kim
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002055:Burnout, Professional / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007588:Job Satisfaction; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011787:Quality of Health Care; D056910:Republic of Korea; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000523:psychology*; D066231:Surgeons / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: Burnout; Career Satisfaction; Exercise; Occupational Stress; Physicians; Surgeon; Working Hours
references: BMC Res Notes. 2013;6:78
references: 23497731
references: J Pak Med Assoc. 2012 Oct;62(10):1109-12
references: 23866463
references: Arch Surg. 2011 Dec;146(12):1347-8
references: 22184291
references: J Am Coll Surg. 2011 Nov;213(5):657-67
references: 21890381
references: Ann Surg. 2012 Apr;255(4):625-33
references: 22388107
references: Arch Surg. 2011 Apr;146(4):385-6
references: 21502446
references: Ann Surg. 2009 Sep;250(3):463-71
references: 19730177
references: Am J Prev Med. 2001 Jan;20(1):61-7
references: 11137777
references: Ann Surg Oncol. 2007 Nov;14(11):3043-53
references: 17828575
references: Thorac Surg Clin. 2011 Aug;21(3):417-30
references: 21762865
references: N Engl J Med. 2002 Oct 17;347(16):1275-8
references: 12393829
references: Oncology. 2005;68(1):23-32
references: 15775690
references: Ann Surg. 2005 Oct;242(4):520-6; discussion 526-9
references: 16192812
references: Int Arch Occup Environ Health. 2008 Oct;82(1):47-57
references: 18301911
references: JAMA. 2009 Sep 23;302(12):1301-8
references: 19773565
references: ANZ J Surg. 2009 Sep;79(9):590-7
references: 19895513
references: Bull Am Coll Surg. 2011 Aug;96(8):17-22
references: 22319907
references: JAMA. 2009 Sep 23;302(12):1294-300
references: 19773564
references: J Korean Surg Soc. 2013 May;84(5):261-6
references: 23646310
references: Front Physiol. 2014 May 01;5:161
references: 24822048