Abstract

Background: Working in the emergency department and being in contact with a large number of patients, who have different conditions that vary in complexity, backgrounds and demands, require quick and efficient intervention most of the time, in line with the requirements set out by the healthcare system. Work-related stress and anxiety do not only affect the doctor's health, but it also have a detrimental impact on the quality of patient care provided. This study aims to determine the work-related stress level and severity among emergency medicine postgraduate trainee doctors. Methodology: A cross-sectional, descriptive (questionnaire-based study) was conducted among the postgraduate emergency medicine trainee doctors in the University Malaya Emergency Medicine Department and the University Sains Malaysia's Emergency Department. The psychological morbidity was assessed using the depression, anxiety, and stress scale. Results: The central finding of this study was a high level of stress among emergency medicine postgraduate students, in which 49.3% of the respondents had stress scores indicative of possible psychiatric concerns, compared between 21% and 28% of respondents in other studies of UK-based consultants. A severe stress score of 7.9% of all responders was found in this study and all of them were from the University of Malaya Medical Center's emergency department. Conclusion: The higher degree of psychological morbidity warrants the need for interventions, like social and psychological reinforcement, for a better quality of life for the trainee doctors.

Key words: Work-related stress, emergency medicine, student, Malaysia.