DEPRESSION AMONG DOCTORS OF SELECTED PUBLIC AND PRIVATE TERTIARY CARE HOSPITALS IN DISTRICT PESHAWAR

Abstract

Introduction: Whereas physicians play important roles in promoting physical and mental wellbeing of the community, they are not immune to physical and mental diseases. Psychiatric problems like depression among doctors may negatively affect performance, attitude towards patients, patient safety and health care in general. Despite this, little attention has been paid to the mental health status of doctors in our region. This study was conducted to assess the magnitude of depression and its risk factors among doctors working in selected tertiary care hospitals of Peshawar, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan.
Materials & Methods: A self-administered questionnaire based cross-sectional survey was carried out in tertiary care hospitals of Peshawar, KP using the Beck depression inventory scale; demographic and related variables were added to the questionnaire. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 16 for descriptive statistics. Cross tabulation was done between intensity of depression and possible risk factors using Chi-square test; p≤0.05 was considered significant.
Results: Depression was found in 10.9% doctors, most of whom were fresh graduates; 34.4% doctors were in transitional stage, at risk of developing the disorder at any time. The Beck Depression Inventory score was positively associated with increased years of experience, expenditures, dependents, working hours, smoking, decreased leisure time and physical activity.
Conclusion: The intensity of depression correlated positively with number of dependents, expenditure and extended working hours, though the major proportion was of transitional stage physicians.