Using causal effect estimation to evaluate occupational stress factors during a weekend on-call shift among general practitioners in training.

Abstract

BACKGROUND: In recent years, our understanding of the various stress factors affecting the mental well-being of medical trainees during on-call work has grown. Although we have developed a general understanding, we still lack insight into the underlying interrelationships and causal effects of these factors, necessary to address and prioritize the mental health needs of young doctors. OBJECTIVES: We aimed to measure the causal effects of selected stress factors related to on-call work contributing to occupational stress among General Practitioners (GPs) in training. METHODS: We identified key stress factors through a literature review and group discussion. Furthermore, we built a Directed Acyclic Graph (DAG) for each identified factor to draw valid causal inferences based on data collected from an observational survey. RESULTS: Our analysis indicated that GPs in training experience interruptions to leisure time, fear of potential work-related errors, and anticipatory and vigilant behaviour towards potential patient complaints as key contributors to elevated stress levels during on-call work. CONCLUSION: Our study revealed the importance of psychological or emotional stressors during an on-call shift encountered by GPs in training, encouraging preventive measures. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Not applicable.