Evidence map›Paper›PMID 38099399›Full record

ArticleBJPsych open2023

Working conditions, psychological distress and suicidal ideation: cross-sectional survey study of UK junior doctors.

Kevin Rui-Han Teoh, Alice Dunning, Anna Kathryn Taylor, Anya Gopfert, Carolyn A Chew-Graham, Johanna Spiers, Louis Appleby, Maria Van Hove, Marta Buszewicz, Ruth Riley

Open access · goldAbstract read
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in BJPsych open, 2023. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 5 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
5citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
2.6field-weighted citation impact, top 10% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

5 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it, 6 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Article
  3. Article
  4. Article
  5. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

10 authors at 7 institutions in 1 country.

Kevin Rui-Han TeohDepartment of Organizational Psychology, Birkbeck, University of London, UK.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6490-8208
Alice DunningSchool of Health and Related Research, University of Sheffield, UK.
Anna Kathryn TaylorLeeds Institute of Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Leeds, UK.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8149-3841
Anya GopfertDepartment of Sports Sciences and Public Health, University of Exeter, UK.
Carolyn A Chew-GrahamDepartment of Sports Sciences and Public Health, Exeter University, UK.
Johanna SpiersSchool of Health Sciences, University of Surrey, UK.
Louis ApplebyDivision of Psychology and Mental Health, School of Medicine, University of Manchester, UK.
Maria Van HoveDepartment of Health and Community Sciences, University of Exeter, UK.
Marta BuszewiczUCL Great Ormand Street Institute of Child Health, University College London, UK.
Ruth RileySchool of Health Sciences, University of Surrey, UK.
University of Exeter · GBUniversity of Surrey · GBBirkbeck, University of London · GBUniversity College London · GBUniversity of Leeds · GBUniversity of Manchester · GBUniversity of Sheffield · GB

Funding

Research for Patient Benefit Programme PB-PG-0418-20023
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundEvidence attests a link between junior doctors' working conditions and psychological distress. Despite increasing concerns around suicidality among junior doctors, little is known about its relationship to their working conditions.

aimsTo (a) establish the prevalence of suicidal ideation among junior doctors in the National Health Service; (b) examine the relationships between perceived working conditions and suicidal ideation; and (c) explore whether psychological distress (e.g. symptoms of depression and anxiety) mediates these relationships.

methodJunior doctors were recruited between March 2020 and January 2021, for a cross-sectional online survey. We used the Health and Safety Executive's Management Standards Tool; Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale 21; and Paykel Suicidality Scale to assess working conditions, psychological distress and suicidality, respectively.

resultsOf the 424 participants, 50.2% reported suicidal ideation, including 6.1% who had made an attempt on their own life. Participants who identified as LGBTQ+ (odds ratio 2.18, 95% CI 1.15-4.12) or reported depression symptoms (odds ratio 1.10, 95% CI 1.07-1.14) were more likely to report suicidal ideation. No direct relationships were reported between working conditions (i.e. control, support, role clarity, strained relationships, demand and change) and suicidal ideation. However, depression symptoms mediated all six relationships.

conclusionsThis sample of junior doctors reported alarming levels of suicidal ideation. There may be an indirect relationship between working conditions and suicidal ideation via depressive symptoms. Clearer research exploring the experience of suicidality in junior doctors is needed, including those who identify as LGBTQ+. Systematic interventions addressing working environment are needed to support junior doctors' mental health.

Indexed as

anxiety or fear-related disordersDepressive disordersrating scalesrisk assessmentsuicide

Identifiers

PMID38099399
PMCPMC10755551
OpenAlexW4389793640

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.