The health and wellbeing of junior doctors: insights from a national survey

Med J Aust. 2009 Oct 19;191(8):441-4. doi: 10.5694/j.1326-5377.2009.tb02880.x.

Abstract

Junior doctors face specific pressures related to their professional stage and development and can be at risk of poor health. A confidential survey conducted in 2008 by the Australian Medical Association Council of Doctors in Training investigated the health and wellbeing of junior doctors. There were 914 completed surveys: 71% of junior doctors were concerned about their own health, and 63% about the health of a colleague. A majority of junior doctors met well established criteria for low job satisfaction (71%), burnout (69%) and compassion fatigue (54%). The early stages of a medical career are demanding, and the health and wellbeing of junior doctors must be a personal priority, as well as the responsibility of the medical profession in general, to ensure a healthy medical workforce in the future.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adaptation, Psychological
  • Adult
  • Australia / epidemiology
  • Burnout, Professional / epidemiology*
  • Data Collection
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Job Satisfaction*
  • Male
  • Medical Staff, Hospital*
  • New Zealand / epidemiology
  • Prevalence
  • Work Schedule Tolerance*