The relative importance of individual and organizational factors for the prevention of job stress during internship: a nationwide and prospective study

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate the relative and sequential importance of individual and organizational predictors of job stress associated with medical internship work. All medical students who graduated in Norway over 2 years (n = 631) were surveyed and followed up 1 year later at the end of the hospital internship year. The outcome was job stress as a house officer; predictor variables included individual factors at medical school and work-related factors during internship. A total of 371 (58%) responded at both time points. Adjusted predictors of job stress were: vulnerability (neuroticism) personality trait (beta 1.7 [95% CI, 0.94 to 2.5]); perceived recording skills (beta −0.43 [−0.78 to −0.08]); number of hours of sleep when on call (beta −2.3 [−3.6 to −1.0]); and learning environment on the hospital wards (beta −0.56 [−0.82 to −0.30]) (see ^{Table 2}). The vulnerability trait was especially important among the female interns. The predictors explained 29% of the total variance in the model; personality contributed 16% of the variance, perceived recording skills 4% and the organizational factors measured in the internship year explained 9%. In terms of prevention, both individual factors (personality trait and perceived skills) and organizational work-related factors (sleep deprivation and learning environment on the wards) should be considered.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Reidar Tyssen

REIDAR Tyssen, MD PhD, is a postdoctoral research fellow in the Department of Behavioural Sciences in Medicine, University of Oslo. He is directing a 10-year follow-up study that focuses on work stress and mental health in the Longitudinal Study of Norwegian Medical Students and Physicians.

Per Vaglum

PER VAGLUM, MD PhD, is a Professor in the Department of Behavioural Sciences in Medicine, University of Oslo. He is Director of the research group on physicians and other professions at the department, and he is Principal Investigator of the Longitudinal Study of Norwegian Medical Students and Physicians.

Nina T. Grønvold

NINA T. GRØNVOLD, MD, is Head of the Organization Department in the Norwegian Confederation of Trade Unions. She used to be a doctoral research fellow in the Department of Behavioural Sciences in Medicine, and was one of the initiators of the Longitudinal Study of Norwegian Medical Students and Physicians.

Øivind Ekeberg

ØIVIND EKEBERG, MD PhD, is a Professor in the Department of Behavioural Sciences in Medicine, University of Oslo and a Consultant Psychiatrist in the Department of Acute Medicine, Ullevål University Hospital. His main research areas are the Longitudinal Study of Norwegian Medical Students and Physicians, suicidology and psychosocial aspects of somatic disease.