Introduction
Gastroenterologists are exposed to various health-related risks in their professional roles,
Because they have various roles including endoscopists, clinicians, and in some cases, academic professionals. Our study aims to assess the work-life balance model and the prevalence of work-related physical and mental symptoms, as well as the effects of work-life balance on the health of Moroccan gastroenterologists.
Aims & Methods
A total of 152 gastroenterologists from various cities in the country participated in an anonymous electronic questionnaire regarding their daily activities and symptoms. A work-life balance ratio was calculated by dividing the number of working hours (per week) by the number of hours spent outside of work (including activities and sleep). Musculoskeletal, gastrointestinal, and mental symptoms were recorded. The Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI) was used to measure the burnout score.
Data was entered and analyzed using the JAMOVI 2.2 software for Mac.
Results
152 Moroccan gastroenterologists were included in the study, with 72.4% being female and 27.6% male, resulting in a sex ratio of 0.38.
The median age of the respondents was 31 years (range: 26 to 64 years), with 61.8% being married, of which 70.2% were married to physicians.
The mean number of working hours per week was 50.2 ± 12.7, with a median number of endoscopies per week of 6.5 (range: 2 to 12). 86.8% reported musculoskeletal disorders, and 71.1% reported digestive disorders.
Regarding mental symptoms, 23.7% reported anxiety, and 46.1% reported depression, with 21.1% experiencing both simultaneously.
The median work-life balance ratio was 0.42 (range: 0.32-0.55).
In univariate analysis, this ratio was not correlated with sex or musculoskeletal and digestive symptoms but was correlated with age (p < 0.001) and mental symptoms (p < 0.001 for depression and p = 0.007 for anxiety). However, in multivariate analysis by adjusting the parameters studied, namely age, sex, presence of confirmed depression, and confirmed anxiety, only age emerged as an associated factor (Beta = -0.24 + (-0.46; 0.013)).
Using the MBI scale, 72.4% of the respondents were found to be experiencing burnout. Burnout was not correlated with sex but was associated with the work-life balance ratio (p = 0.04). It is noteworthy that two of the three categories of this scale, namely depersonalization and personal accomplishment, were associated with the age of the respondents (p = 0.002 and p = 0.003). Indeed, a moderate negative correlation was found between age and depersonalization (r = -0.32), and a moderate positive correlation was found between age and personal accomplishment (r = 0.31).
Conclusion
Moroccan gastroenterologists suffer from musculoskeletal, digestive, and mental symptoms, and are prone to burnout likely due to long and laboting work. Our study found that younger individuals worked more and were more likely to experience burnout, particularly with decreased empathy towards patients and diminished personal accomplishment.
Disclosure
No conflict of interested was noted