Opinion

Physician wellness under assault during residency

LETTER — Posted Feb. 23, 2004

Print  |   Email  |   Respond  |   Reprints  |   Like Facebook  |   Share Twitter  |   Tweet Linkedin

Regarding "Physician health and wellness: An ethical imperative" (Editorial, Jan. 26):

I read with interest the recent editorial on physician health and wellness, an important area that warrants our attention. During the spring of 2003, my last year of residency, I conducted a survey of my colleagues and their health behaviors. Study results demonstrated that the work hours of the residents seriously limited their ability to pursue healthy lifestyles.

Among the findings, only 25% of respondents regularly met American Heart Assn. guidelines for physical activity. Thirty percent of respondents had been treated for depression in the last year, and one other respondent added in the comments section that she was depressed but did not have time to address the issue. Other respondents commented on the difficulty of finding time to address personal health care issues, prepare healthy meals or engage in stress relief activities.

As medical professionals, we must ask ourselves what kind of message are we sending to the general population if we do not make healthy lifestyles a priority.

Aldebra Schroll, MD, Chico, Calif.

Note: This item originally appeared at http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2004/02/23/edlt0223.htm.

Back to top


ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISE HERE


Featured
Read story

Confronting bias against obese patients

Medical educators are starting to raise awareness about how weight-related stigma can impair patient-physician communication and the treatment of obesity. Read story


Read story

Goodbye

American Medical News is ceasing publication after 55 years of serving physicians by keeping them informed of their rapidly changing profession. Read story


Read story

Policing medical practice employees after work

Doctors can try to regulate staff actions outside the office, but they must watch what they try to stamp out and how they do it. Read story


Read story

Diabetes prevention: Set on a course for lifestyle change

The YMCA's evidence-based program is helping prediabetic patients eat right, get active and lose weight. Read story


Read story

Medicaid's muddled preventive care picture

The health system reform law promises no-cost coverage of a lengthy list of screenings and other prevention services, but some beneficiaries still might miss out. Read story


Read story

How to get tax breaks for your medical practice

Federal, state and local governments offer doctors incentives because practices are recognized as economic engines. But physicians must know how and where to find them. Read story


Read story

Advance pay ACOs: A down payment on Medicare's future

Accountable care organizations that pay doctors up-front bring practice improvements, but it's unclear yet if program actuaries will see a return on investment. Read story


Read story

Physician liability: Your team, your legal risk

When health care team members drop the ball, it's often doctors who end up in court. How can physicians improve such care and avoid risks? Read story

  • Stay informed
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • RSS
  • LinkedIn