Analysis of the occupational stress of Korean surgeons: a pilot study / 대한외과학회지

PURPOSE: Surgeons serve one of the most challenging and stressful professions. Ineffective control of occupational stress leads to burnout of the surgeon. The aim of this study was to obtain preliminary data on the sources and the degree of stress of surgeons and to determine the feasibility of the survey. METHODS: A total of 63 surgeons in our three affiliated hospitals were enrolled in this study. Fifty-five questions were used to assess the demographics, characteristics and Korean occupational stress scale (KOSS), which were prepared and validated by the National Study for Development and Standardization of Occupational Stress. RESULTS: Forty-seven of the 63 surgeons participated in this study (74.6%). The mean KOSS score of the survey was 50.9 +/- 8.55, which was significantly higher than that of other professions (P < 0.01). Drinking and smoking habits were not related to the KOSS score. Doing exercise was related to a low KOSS score in terms of low KOSS total score (P < 0.01). Average duty hours (P < 0.01) and night duty days per week (P = 0.01) were strongly related to higher KOSS in the linear regression analysis. CONCLUSION: This is the first study to evaluate job stress of surgeons in Korea. This study showed that Korean Surgeons had higher occupational stress than other Korean professions. A larger study based on this pilot study will help generate objective data for occupational stress of Korean Surgeons by performing a survey of the members of the Korean Surgical Society.

Occupational Stress on Risk Factors for Cardiovascular Diseases and Metabolic Syndrome / 대한산업의학회지

OBJECTIVES: The aim of the study was to examine the relationship between occupational stress and cardiovascular risk factors including metabolic syndrome in a working population. METHODS: A cross-sectional population-based survey was conducted among Koreans working in several industries. They were questioned about: demographic factors, marital status, education, personal history, alcohol intake, smoking, and physical activity , while their occupational stress was assessed using the Korean Occupational Stress Scale (KOSS). The subjects were measured for height, weight, blood pressure, waist circumference, fasting plasma glucose, cholesterol, triglycerides, HDL-cholesterol and LDLcholesterol. Regression analyses to determine the relationships between occupational stressors using KOSS and cardiovascular risk factors were performed using multivariate models with adjustment for potential confounders. RESULTS: A total of 2,097 workers (1,770 men and 327 women) were included. Multiple logistic regression analysis (socio-demographics and potential confounders) demonstrated a positive association between high interpersonal conflicts and hypertension, a negative association between high job insecurity and diabetes and no association between any KOSS subscale and metabolic syndrome and obesity. Multiple linear regression, adjusted for socio-demographics and potential confounders demonstrated a negative association between low HDL-cholesterol and poor physical environments, high job demand and poor job insecurity and no association between lipid profiles and other KOSS sub-scales. CONCLUSIONS: A few KOSS sub-scales such as interpersonal conflicts showed a positive association with hypertension in Korean workers. Neverthelsss, some measures of occupational stress showed a negative association with diabetes and HDL-cholesterol in cross-sectional population-based survey. We therefore decided to conclude this association by longitudinal study.