[Cross-sectional study of the variability of work-related stress among post-graduate medical residents at the main University Polyclinic of Sicily].
BACKGROUND
Among health care workers (HCWs), work-related stress is one of the main topics in risk assessment and prevention at the workplace. Post-graduate medical residents (MRs) are a group of HCWs comparable to medical doctors in terms of occupational exposure and occurrence of work-related stress syndromes.


OBJECTIVE
Risk assessment of work-related stress among MRs attending the major University Hospital of Sicily.


METHODS
A cross-sectional survey via an anonymous and self-administered questionnaire.


RESULTS
45% of clinical MRs and 37% of surgical MRs had access to compensatory rest days against 92% of MRs of the services area (p&lt;0.001). A work attendance recording system for MRs was available in 80% of the postgraduate medical schools of the services area, in 60% of the clinical postgraduate schools and in 50% of the surgical postgraduate schools (p&lt;0.001). MRs of the postgraduate surgical schools reported having access to work breaks (41%) with less frequency compared to clinical (60%) and services MRs (74%) (p&lt;0.001). Both clinical (47%) and surgical MRs (47%) were more exposed to work-related stress than MRs of the services area (27%) (p&lt;0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
The survey demonstrated excess exposure to work-related stress for all the considered variables in MRs of the surgical area, compared with MRs of clinical and services areas. It is strongly recommended to provide specific training programmes aimed at managing the MRs' risk of exposure to work-related stress, focusing both on the workers and the work environment.
Dipartimento di Scienze per la Promozione della Salute e Materno Infantile "G.D'Alessandro"- Università degli Studi di Palermo. claudio.costantino01@unipa.it.
Claudio
C
Costantino
Valentina
V
Albeggiani
Maria Stefania
MS
Bonfante
Caterina
C
Monte
Nunzio
N
Lo Cascio
Walter
W
Mazzucco
D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005221:Fatigue / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006785:Hospitals, University; D006801:Humans; D007396:Internship and Residency; D008297:Male; D008505:Medical Staff, Hospital / Q000523:psychology*; D008511:Medicine; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D009786:Occupational Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data / Q000600:supply & distribution; D012146:Rest; D057566:Self Report; D012802:Sicily; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014940:Work Schedule Tolerance; D017132:Workplace; D055815:Young Adult