Working conditions, psychological distress and suicidal ideation: cross-sectional survey study of UK junior doctors.

BACKGROUND: Evidence attests a link between junior doctors' working conditions and psychological distress. Despite increasing concerns around suicidality among junior doctors, little is known about its relationship to their working conditions. AIMS: To (a) establish the prevalence of suicidal ideation among junior doctors in the National Health Service; (b) examine the relationships between perceived working conditions and suicidal ideation; and (c) explore whether psychological distress (e.g. symptoms of depression and anxiety) mediates these relationships. METHOD: Junior doctors were recruited between March 2020 and January 2021, for a cross-sectional online survey. We used the Health and Safety Executive's Management Standards Tool; Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale 21; and Paykel Suicidality Scale to assess working conditions, psychological distress and suicidality, respectively. RESULTS: Of the 424 participants, 50.2% reported suicidal ideation, including 6.1% who had made an attempt on their own life. Participants who identified as LGBTQ+ (odds ratio 2.18, 95% CI 1.15-4.12) or reported depression symptoms (odds ratio 1.10, 95% CI 1.07-1.14) were more likely to report suicidal ideation. No direct relationships were reported between working conditions (i.e. control, support, role clarity, strained relationships, demand and change) and suicidal ideation. However, depression symptoms mediated all six relationships. CONCLUSIONS: This sample of junior doctors reported alarming levels of suicidal ideation. There may be an indirect relationship between working conditions and suicidal ideation via depressive symptoms. Clearer research exploring the experience of suicidality in junior doctors is needed, including those who identify as LGBTQ+. Systematic interventions addressing working environment are needed to support junior doctors' mental health.

Recommendations for improving the working conditions and cultures of distressed junior doctors, based on a qualitative study and stakeholder perspectives.

BACKGROUND: Doctors, including junior doctors, are vulnerable to greater levels of distress and mental health difficulties than the public. This is exacerbated by their working conditions and cultures. While this vulnerability has been known for many years, little action has been taken to protect and support junior doctors working in the NHS. As such, we present a series of recommendations from the perspective of junior doctors and other relevant stakeholders, designed to improve junior doctors' working conditions and, thus, their mental health. METHODS: We interviewed 36 junior doctors, asking them for recommendations for improving their working conditions and culture. Additionally, we held an online stakeholder meeting with a variety of healthcare professionals (including junior doctors), undergraduate medical school leads, postgraduate speciality school leads and NHS policymakers where we asked what could be done to improve junior doctors' working conditions. We combined interview data with notes from the stakeholder discussions to produce this set of recommendations. RESULTS: Junior doctor participants and stakeholders made organisational and interpersonal recommendations. Organisational recommendations include the need for more environmental, staff and educational resources as well as changes to rotas. Interpersonal recommendations include changes to communication and recommendations for better support and teamwork. CONCLUSION: We suggest that NHS policymakers, employers and managers consider and hopefully implement the recommendations set out by the study participants and stakeholders as reported in this paper and that the gold standards of practice which are reported here (such as examples of positive learning environments and supportive supervision) are showcased so that others can learn from them.

Recommendations to support the mental wellbeing of nurses and midwives in the United Kingdom: A Delphi study.

AIM: To use the Delphi technique to identify and prioritize recommendations for research and practice to improve the mental wellbeing of nurses and midwives in the United Kingdom (UK). BACKGROUND: Although there is evidence that self-reported mental wellbeing among nurses and midwives in the UK is poor, interventions have not adequately considered the wider context in which they work. The wide range of individual, organizational, occupational and wider sector-level factors that can influence wellbeing requires the involvement of different stakeholders to identify the most pressing actions required. DESIGN: A three-round Delphi technique was conducted in 2019. METHODS: In the first round, 16 subject matter experts generated, reviewed and discussed recommendations from a review of the research evidence with potential to support the mental wellbeing of nurses. A second group with 23 stakeholder representatives then rated and provided feedback on the developed recommendations through two additional rounds. Recommendations that received an 'essential' or 'important' rating from at least 80% of participants were retained and prioritized. RESULTS: In total, 45 recommendations met the consensus agreement and were retained. More than half (57%) involved action at the organizational level, 27% to public policy and 13% to research. Only one recommendation is related to the individual. Collectively, these recommendations highlight the importance of taking direct action to tackle poor mental wellbeing among the workforce and initiating change at the policy and organizational level. CONCLUSION: Our findings emphasize the need to take a systemic approach to improving the mental health of nurses and midwives in the UK with input from different stakeholders. There is a clear consensus that action is needed at the organization and policy levels, rather than at the individual level as is current practice. IMPACT: This study provides a framework, alongside a set of practical recommendations, that provides a starting point for different stakeholders to understand, address and support the mental wellbeing of nurses and midwives. Although UK-focused, it has relevance to healthcare workforces internationally.

What challenges did junior doctors face while working during the COVID-19 pandemic? A qualitative study.

OBJECTIVES: This paper reports findings exploring junior doctors' experiences of working during the COVID-19 pandemic in the UK. DESIGN: Qualitative study using in-depth interviews with 15 junior doctors. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed, anonymised and imported into NVivo V.12 to facilitate data management. Data were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis. SETTING: National Health Service (NHS) England. PARTICIPANTS: A purposive sample of 12 female and 3 male junior doctors who indicated severe depression and/or anxiety on the DASS-21 questionnaire or high suicidality on Paykel's measure were recruited. These doctors self-identified as having lived experience of distress due to their working conditions. RESULTS: We report three major themes. First, the challenges of working during the COVID-19 pandemic, which were both personal and organisational. Personal challenges were characterised by helplessness and included the trauma of seeing many patients dying, fears about safety and being powerless to switch off. Work-related challenges revolved around change and uncertainty and included increasing workloads, decreasing staff numbers and negative impacts on relationships with colleagues and patients. The second theme was strategies for coping with the impact of COVID-19 on work, which were also both personal and organisational. Personal coping strategies, which appeared limited in their usefulness, were problem and emotion focused. Several participants appeared to have moved from coping towards learnt helplessness. Some organisations reacted to COVID-19 collaboratively and flexibly. Third, participants reported a positive impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on working practices, which included simplified new ways of working-such as consistent teams and longer rotations-as well as increased camaraderie and support. CONCLUSIONS: The trauma that junior doctors experienced while working during COVID-19 led to powerlessness and a reduction in the benefit of individual coping strategies. This may have resulted in feelings of resignation. We recommend that, postpandemic, junior doctors are assigned to consistent teams and offered ongoing support.