Need for recovery and Self Rated Health Status in Slovenian physicians

Introduction
Research into the influence of psychosocial factors at work on health was conducted for the first time among Slovenian physicians. The aim was to establish the influence of psychosocial factors at work on need for recovery (NR), incidence of fatigue and connection between the need for recovery, fatigue and the self rated health state (SRHS).

Methods
Cross-sectional study of 700 general practitioners and 166 occupational physicians was performed, with a response rate of 36 %. Questionnaires about psychological demand, control and support at work, NR and SRHS were used. For testing the impact of each of these variables on NR and SRHS, the t-test, linear and multiple linear regression were used.

Results
There was a significant linear relationship between psychological demands and NR with regression coefficient (r) of 0.32, control at work and NR (r=-0,19), support at work and NR (r= -0.11), and between conflict at work and NR (r= 0.79). In the multiple model only psychological demands (r=0.25), control at work (r=-0.14), and conflict at work (r=0.40) remained significant predictive factors for need for recovery. 64 % of respondents felt fatigue after work. Mean score for SRHS was significantly lower in respondents who had fatigue, in comparison to respondents who did not have fatigue (3.0 versus 3.6, p<0.001.) In the multiple model, only NR remained a significant predictive factor for SRHS (r=-0.21).

Discussion
69 % respondents were female, an average age of 50 years ,working in public health sector were 69 % The NR increased as the psychological demands or conflict at work increased, while this was reduced with stronger control and support at work. Overtime did not influence on NR. SRHS was significantly lower in participants who felt fatigue after work. We can conclude that demands and conflict caused NR and likely fatigue, fatigue and NR influenced health of physicians.