The lifestyle factors of medical doctors in academic hospitals, Bloemfontein, Free State
South African Family Practice
| Field | Value | |
| Title | The lifestyle factors of medical doctors in academic hospitals, Bloemfontein, Free State | |
| Creator | Alexander, Deepa C. Lessing, Leané Botes, Huibré Conradie, Fredré Jansen van Rensburg, Lu-Zahn Nel, Karien Pienaar, Emmarentia Prinsloo, Maryke Sinclair, Lialma van Rooyen, Cornel | |
| Description | Background: Lifestyle factors of medical doctors are essential to their health and well-being. Previous studies omitted factors that constituted a healthy lifestyle and did not differentiate between various medical specialties or level of seniority which may expose doctors to different stress levels, workload and responsibility. The study assessed the lifestyle factors of medical doctors and compared them between departments, levels of seniority, years of experience and gender according to globally recognised health standards.Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study collected data using a questionnaire created by the researchers based on healthy lifestyle factors and was administered online. Access was given to all doctors from four large departments, employed at two academic hospitals in Bloemfontein, Free State who agreed to participate in the study.Results: Consultants from paediatrics, with 6+ years in medical practice, had the healthiest lifestyles. Registrars and interns from surgical disciplines such as obstetrics and gynaecology and surgery, with 1–5 years of medical practice, showed unhealthy lifestyles with inadequate sleep and exercise.Conclusion: The challenge remains how medical doctors can live a healthy lifestyle while managing a demanding schedule. This may impact on the management of their patients and the doctors’ overall health and well-being. We recommend improving the working conditions by providing healthy meals on-site at hospitals with adequate breaks, reducing the heavy workload and providing exercise facilities.Contribution: The findings from this article may help improve the lifestyles of the identified groups of at-risk doctors and assist them in seeking ways to improve upon this. | |
| Publisher | AOSIS | |
| Date | 2024-10-30 | |
| Identifier | 10.4102/safp.v66i1.5979 | |
| Source | South African Family Practice; Vol 66, No 1 (2024): Part 4; 8 pages 2078-6204 2078-6190 | |
| Language | eng | |
| Relation |
The following web links (URLs) may trigger a file download or direct you to an alternative webpage to gain access to a publication file format of the published article:
https://safpj.co.za/index.php/safpj/article/view/5979/9149
https://safpj.co.za/index.php/safpj/article/view/5979/9150
https://safpj.co.za/index.php/safpj/article/view/5979/9151
https://safpj.co.za/index.php/safpj/article/view/5979/9152
|
|
ADVERTISEMENT
