Support for Hospital Physicians - From the activities by the Committee for Physicians' Health, the Japan Medical Association

Abstract

This study was conducted by the Committee for Hospital Physicians' Health, the Japan Medical Association, which was established in June 2008. Ten thousands members of the Japan Medical Association working at hospitals were randomly selected. They were asked to complete and return a self-reported questionnaire which included the Japanese version of the Quick Inventory of Depressive Symptomatology (QIDS). As a result, the response rate was 40.6%. Half of the responders took holidays less than 4 days per month, and they encountered one and more unreasonable demands and/or complaints from their patients/families during last 6 months. Among the respondents, 8.4% of men and 10.6% of women were identified with depressive symptoms. Especially, 1.9% of them were found to be severely depressed. After this investigation, the committee provided three-month e-mail and one-day telephone consultation service. The committee received 10 e-mails during the three month period, but no responses were received by telephone. This result indicates that physicians are less likely to talk about their health problems, especially mental problems with other professionals. Some different support systems should be considered.