Prevalence of health-related behaviors among physicians and medical trainees
Abstract
Objective The authors studied the prevalence of health-promoting and health-risking behaviors among physicians and physicians-in-training. Given the significant potential for negative outcomes to physicians' own health as well as the health and safety of their patients, examination of the natural history of this acculturation process about physician self-care and wellness is critical to the improvement of the western health care delivery system.Methods 963 matriculating medical students, residents, or attending physicians completed the Empathy, Spirituality, and Wellness in Medicine (ESWIM) survey between the years 2000 and 2004. Items specific to physician wellness were analyzed. These included healthy behaviors as well as risk behaviors.Results Both medical students and attending physicians scored higher in overall wellness than did residents. Residents were the lowest scoring group for getting enough sleep, using seatbelts, and exercising. Medical students were more likely to smoke tobacco and drink alcohol. Medical students reported less depression and anxiety and more social contacts.Conclusion Medical school training may prevent students from maintaining healthy behaviors, so that by the time they are residents they exercise less, sleep less, and spend less time in organizational activities outside of medical school. If physicians do not engage in these healthy behaviors, they are less likely to encourage such behaviors in their patients and patients are less likely to listen to them even if they do talk about it.
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Sleep issues among medical doctors may lead to symptoms of depression, anxiety, and burnout.
“These issues may lead to symptoms of depression, anxiety (47–54) and burnout (54–59).”
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Preventive, Lifestyle, and Personal Health Behaviors Among Physicians
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- Authors
- Hull, S. K., DiLalla, L. F., & Dorsey, J. K.
- Affiliations
- Southern Illinois University Carbondale (US)
- Corresponding author
- Hull, S. K.
- ORCID
- DiLalla, L. F.
- Venue
- Academic Psychiatry
- Published
- 2008-02-01
- Volume
- 32
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 31-38
- ISSN
- 1042-9670 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2136148951
- Cited by
- 77
- References
- 26
- Citations by year
- 2026: 2 · 2024: 2 · 2023: 1 · 2022: 3 · 2021: 4 · 2020: 9 · 2019: 5 · 2018: 5 · 2017: 5 · 2016: 8 · 2015: 7 · 2014: 5 · 2013: 7 · 2012: 6
- FWCI
- 5.14
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Academic Psychiatry (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Health Professions › General Health Professions › Healthcare professionals’ stress and burnout
- Health Sciences › Health Professions › General Health Professions › Health and Lifestyle Studies
- Social Sciences › Gender Studies › Diversity and Career in Medicine
- Keywords
- physician well-being, health behavior, medical students, medical residents, attending physicians, sleep, physical activity, seat belt use, tobacco use, alcohol consumption, depression, anxiety, social contact, medical education, health promotion
- MeSH terms
- Acculturation, Adult, Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Empathy, Female, Humans, Internship and Residency, Male, Middle Aged, Physicians, Health Behavior, Prevalence, Spirituality
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