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Emerg Med J 2003;20:230-231 doi:10.1136/emj.20.3.230
  • Original Article

Stress and coping in accident and emergency senior house officers

  1. S McPherson1,
  2. R Hale1,
  3. P Richardson2,
  4. A Obholzer1
  1. 1Tavistock and Portman NHS Trust, London, UK
  2. 2Tavistock and Portman NHS Trust, University of Essex, UK
  1. Correspondence to:
 Susan McPherson, Psychotherapy Evaluation Research Unit, Tavistock Centre, 120 Belsize Lane, London NW3 5BA, UK; 
 smcpherson{at}tavi-port.org
  • Accepted 11 December 2002

Abstract

Objectives: To identify levels of psychological distress in accident and emergency (A&E) senior house officers (SHOs).

Methods: Questionnaire survey given to SHOs at training sessions.

Measures: General Health Questionnaire (GHQ) and the Brief COPE.

Results: Over half of the 37 respondents (51%; 95% CI: 36% to 67%) scored over the threshold for psychological distress on the GHQ. This is considerably higher than for other groups of doctors and for other professional groups. Correlational analysis revealed that the coping style Venting was significantly related to greater anxiety (r=0.34; p<0.05) and depression (r=0.33; p<0.05), while the coping style Active was significantly related to lower anxiety (r=−0.38; p<0.05), somatic complaints (r=−0.46; p<0.001) and years since qualification (r=0.40; p<0.05).

Conclusions: Replicating findings from a study of stress in A&E consultants, this study shows higher levels of overt psychological distress among A&E SHOs than among other groups of doctors. An intervention to improve coping strategies may be useful for this group of doctors.

Footnotes

  • Funding: none.

  • Conflicts of interest: none.

Responses to this article

  • What to do about psychological distress in Emergency Department Senior House Officers
    • Ian M Higginson,
    • Joanne Probert, William Sargeant, Ian Higginson, Nigel Rawlinson
    Emerg Med J published online June 23, 2003

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