Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1478015
3 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 4 SEPTEMBER 2022 Majority of doctors… do not have a doctor The study also found that 59.5% doctors said they do not have their own doctor, and that they provide their own medical care, while 59% would not want others to know if they were ex- periencing mental health prob- lems in contrast to 30% who do not want others to know that they were experiencing physical health problems. The authors of the study con- sider the high rate of self-stigma on mental health with particular concern, given the high rate of doctors who provide their own medical care. "Addressing this attitude in early stages of train- ing may help to reduce barriers to care, according to the authors of this study. This is especial- ly important when considering that the medical profession is as- sociated with a high risk of men- tal ill health, substance misuse and suicide risk." A total of 46 doctors (27%) re- corded high and very high stress levels. Twenty-nine of these (63%) were females. But lower stress levels were found among those who had progressed in their career. 38 participants (22%) reported that their mental health affected their work 'half the time', 'most of the time' or 'all of the time'. Twenty-four of these (63%) were doctors who were still in training (including Foundation doctors). Overall, 66 of the participants (38%) fell into the highest per- centile ranges for burnout and 39 (59%) of these were females. 59% of male doctors at risk of obesity 47.7% of all participants in the survey had a Body Mass Index in the overweight or obese range. The obesity rate was higher among male doctors, reaching the 58.9% mark. Research in 2014 showed that GPs in Malta who are obese find it harder to recommend exer- cise, with subsequent adverse consequences on the health of patients. The high percentage of doc- tors who are overweight or obese suggests that despite their knowledge, doctors still struggle with a healthy lifestyle and that interventions at various levels – personal, professional and or- ganisational, are needed to help doctors improve and maintain their physical and mental health and well-being. Study recommends confidential mental health service The study comes with a num- ber of recommendations in- cluding better working condi- tions for all doctors, through a shared workload, manageable working hours, regular breaks, fair and equal access to vacation leave and study leave and fami- ly-friendly measures. It also recommends structures that allow for dealing with issues such as belittlement, harassment and sexual harassment at the workplace in a confidential and effective manner. In view of the self-stigma on reporting mental health and to a lesser extent physical health issues, the study recom- mends easy access to confiden- tial medical and psychological services, specifically for doctors, with a weekly afternoon/evening clinic, ideally outside of hospital or government health centres, to ensure privacy, where two GPs would be available. "An email address can be made available for doctors to make contact or set an appointment. The GPs will make the initial assessment and be available for follow-up, or refer as needed." The study also recommends structures to deal with belittle- ment, harassment and sexual harassment at the workplace in a confidential and effective man- ner. jdebono@mediatoday.com.mt NEWS Females reported consistently higher levels of mental ill health including stress, burnout, compassion fatigue and secondary traumatic stress. One of the reasons for this was that female doctors, particularly those in training, have "to juggle many other things in addition to work-related tasks". SEXUAL HARASSMENT Participants were asked to indicate whether they expe- rienced belittlement, harass- ment or sexual harassment at the workplace, and to indi- cate the source and whether this occurred 'sometimes', 'often' or 'regularly'. Significantly, 33 doctors (19%) reported being sexu- ally harassed by patients, 15 (9%) reported being sexually harassed by senior medical staff – of which three experi- enced this regularly – and 17 doctors (10%) were harassed by other health professionals. 13 doctors were sexually har- assed by non-medical staff. Working hours were longest among Foundation Year doctors, 81% of whom work over 48 hours, and amongst doctors in training, where 62% work over this limit. But working hours tend to decrease as career progresses, especially with 35% of specialists.