Anesthesiologists work-related exhaustion: a comparison study with other hospital employees

Anesthesia is a demanding occupation due to long working hours, sustained vigilance, unpredictability of stressful situation, fear of litigation, competence, and production pressure. Work-related exhaustion can lead to several physical and psychological symptoms and delay decision making. The aim of this study was to evaluate how different work conditions affect personnel exhaustion by studying a sample of anesthesiologists comparing them with ophthalmologists and ancillary hospital staff One hundred fifty persons divided into three equal groups [50 each] were invited to participate in this study. Subjects were asked to answer two self report questionnaires: The Multidimensional Fatigue Inventory [MFI-20] and General Health Questionnaire [GHQ-12] which used to assess work related exhaustion and mental health, respectively. Multidimensional Fatigue Inventory scale [MFI 20] and General Health Questionnaire [GHQ 12] were significantly higher in anesthesiologists than in other groups [P=0.001]. Different aspects of work-related exhaustion showed that general, physical and mental fatigue were significantly higher in anesthesiologists [P=0.002 and 0.001, respectively]. Reduced activity and reduced motivation were also higher in anesthesiologists compare to the other groups [P=0.005 and 0.001, respectively]. Work-related exhaustion under the current study is more obvious among anesthesiologists. Ophthalmologist and ancillary hospital employees felt that they had less stress at their work

occupational fatigue in anesthesiologists: illusion or real?

Fatigue is usually reported after lack of sleep or excessive physical or mental effort. Endocrine disorders are also associated with the symptoms of fatigue. Symptoms of fatigue were reported 20% of working population. Anesthesiologists are more exposed to stress at work because of long working hours and high demand of the job. The aim of this study was to evaluate fatigue at work from anesthesiologist' own perspectives and to identify the possible risk factors associated with fatigue. Two hundred and ten persons, were participated in this survey, they were 50 anesthesiologists, 60 diabetic patients and 100 employees. Participants were asked to answer two self report Questionnaires: The Multidimensional Fatigue Inventory [MFI-20] and General Health Questionnaire [GHQ-12] which used to assess the degree of fatigue and mental health respectively. Total fatigue score was significant in anesthesiologists compared to both patients [P value = 0.047] and employees [P value < 0.001]. All sub-items of fatigue score were higher in anesthesiologists compared to those of employees [P value < 0.001], however only general and mental fatigue were higher in comparison to patients [P value = 0.02]. The GHQ score of the anesthesiologists was significantly higher when compared to those of the employees [P value < 0.001] but no difference with patients [P value = 0.090]. Physical, mental and total score of fatigue were higher in female anesthesiologist. Fatigue and psychological distress are common among anesthesiologists in comparison to patients and ordinary hospital employees. Female anesthesiologists were affected more by fatigue

High schoolers' knowledge and attitudes about schizophrenia in Saudi Arabia

Schizophrenia is a serious mental illness, usually strikes adolescents and young adults, and drastically reduces their quality of life. To identify and assess wrong ideas, conceptions and attitudes of Saudi adolescents about schizophrenia. The author conducted 300 female students in Saudi Arabia using especially designed questionnaire. Showed the majority of the sample knows about schizophrenia mainly through television and newspapers. They reported schizophrenia as a mental or neuropsychiatric disorder and 27% of them considered patient to have spilt personality. The majority of the students acknowledged that schizophrenia is a treatable disease mainly outside hospitals by psychotherapy. From adolescent point of view, the schizophrenic patient usually has unexpected behavior, and can commit crime and the best help for those patient was raising the awareness of the community about the disease, and give the patient a chance to work. Most of the students showed negative attitude towards schizophrenics. Adolescents had some understanding of schizophrenia as a problem of the brain with psychosocial causes. However, they lacked knowledge about the proper treatment. The students strongly endorse negative attitudes about schizophrenia based on misconception about the symptoms

Pain and anxiety assessment in topical vs. peribulbar anesthesia in cataract surgery

The aim of this study was to compare topical with peribulbar anesthetic technique as regards pain and anxiety in patients undergoing phacoemulsification cataract surgery. Hundred patients undergoing phacoemulsification procedure were enrolled in the study. Patients were divided into two groups, topical and peribulbar anesthesia was used for group I and II respectively. Pain assessment was done using visual analogue pain scale following administration of the local and topical anaesthesia, immediately after surgery, 2 hours postoperatively and overall pain experience. The Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale [HARS] was used to assess the overall level of anxiety in the two studied groups. Pain score was significantly higher for Peribulbar group immediately after the block and over all pain experience [P value <0.01]. The two groups did not show any significant difference in the level of pain during the surgery and in the early post operative period. The topical group reported less perioperative anxiety compared to the Peribulbar group, but this difference did not reach significant level [P value= 0.6]. Patients undergoing phacoemulsification procedure under topical anesthesia experience less pain than patients received peribulbar blockade. Both techniques produce mild level of anxiety with less extent in topical group

Active life style and cognitive function in elderly people

With the rapid ageing of the world population, investigating protective factors that may prevent or delay age-related disorders has become a new public health priority. To determine whether participating in Leisure activities [cognitive or/and physical] is associated with better cognitive function in elderly people. The study enrolled 140 physically capable retired participants [both sexes] between 65 to 75 years of age, randomized from different healthy clubs in Alexandria. They were divided into two groups according to their style of life [based on the Leisure Activity Scale]. Standardized Mini- Mental State Examination [SMMSE] was used to assess cognitive status. Those who reported performing leisure activities frequently [group I] were significantly males, younger, and more educated than those who rarely reported activities [group II]. Medically free participants were significantly presented only in group I. Arthritis was significantly more prevalent in group II. Participants who frequently perform leisure activities [group I] significantly had the highest SMMSE scores. There was no significant difference between the participants in group I regarding the duration in years of performing leisure activities. Only in group I, there was a significant positive relation between number of years of performing leisure activities and better cognitive performance [SMMSE scores]. Regular leisure activity [physical and/or cognitive] was strongly associated with better cognitive function in later life

PTSD, does it really exist in Alexandria out-patient clinic?

Posttraumatic stress disorder [PTSD] was observed to be clinically under diagnosed in the psychiatric outpatient clinic in Alexandria University Main Hospital. Because of the significant implications of PTSD on the sufferers and the whole community, so the aim of this work was to estimate the actual one-month rate of PTSD and to identify the causes of under diagnosis. All patients attended the clinic during one month were assessed by using a list of traumas [Kessler 's et al 1995] and DSM-IV PTSD criteria. Demographic characteristics, trauma and other clinical correlates of PTSD diagnosis were also examined. Out of 570 patients, 11.2% had PTSD; two-thirds of them had partial syndrome. Only 20% of the cases presented with PTSD manifestations. Ninety-four percent experienced one traumatic event and witnessing was the most common reported trauma. The majority [97%] had acute onset and the main duration of illness was more than 10 years. PTSD was strongly associated with other psychiatric disorders with major depression being the commonest comorbid disorder [20% of cases]. The rate of PTSD in the out-patient clinic in Alexandria University is relatively high. Patients' failure to acknowledge the traumatic experience, the presentation of PTSD patients with other psychiatric or somatic manifestations, the high rate of partial syndrome rather than full syndrome and the high comorbidity rate might be the possible factors behind the under diagnosis of PTSD