Occupational Stress and Risk Factors in Veterinary Surgeons

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate occupational stress and risk factors among veterinary surgeons. The present cross-sectional study was performed in 2012 via a web-based survey. Data of 223 individuals who responded to the survey are presented. In order to evaluate the occupational stress Turkish Version of "Swedish Demand-Control-Support Questionnaire" was used. Mean age of participants was 37.45 +/- 9.11 and 28.3% of subjects were female. Work load, work control, skill, decision latitude, and social support mean points with standard deviations were found to be 9.42 +/- 1.86, 10.27 +/- 2.72, 7.06 +/- 1.78, 3.21 +/- 1.64 and 11.26 +/- 3.94, respectively. It was reported that 92 subjects were working for public institutions and 131 were working for private sector. Decision latitude and social support levels in surgeons working for public institutions were statistically significantly lower than their counterparts in the private sector. There was no statistically significant difference in work load, work control and skill use between two groups. Of participants 54.3% reported that they had car accidents, 19.3% reported that they had the accident in the last one year, and 9.9% reported that they had the accident during a patient visit. Majority of Turkish veterinary surgeons in our study group reported that they experienced occupational stress. Occupational stress and related factors in work environment can influence work health negatively by causing physical, mental and social problems.