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14 views

Student Research Assignment

Uploaded by

anagharavindvellayani
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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STUDENT RESEARCH ASSIGNMENT

SHORTER LIFE EXPECTANCY OF DOCTORS AND


MITIGATION STRATEGIES (Regional Case Study-
Kozhikode)

STUDENT: Aathira A V, MBBS Student, Govt. Medical College


Ernakulam

SUPPORT (requested): The Achutha Menon Centre for Health


Science (AMCHSS)

SUPERVISORS: Dr Rajesh, Biochemistry HOD, Govt. Medical


College Ernakulam

From AMCHSS (To be confirmed)

INTRODUCTION
In India the lifespan of a doctor is concerningly lower than
Average. With the assignment, it is attempted to understand
the reason behind such a occurrence, by taking into account
factors such as disease exposure, stress, long working
hours, etc. And in understanding why eventually finding a
way to improve the life expectancy of healthcare
professionals in India.
OBJECTIVE
To estimate the life expectancy of doctors in a selected
region, say Kozhikode, and if found shorter as expected, to
recommend mitigation measures strategies.

ACTIVITIES:
REVIEW OF LITERATURE

DEVELOPMENT OF SURVEY METHODS

CONDUCTING SURVEY

DATA ANALYSIS

REPORT PREPARATION

MITIGATION STRATEGIES

REFERENCES

PUBLISH PAPER (If possible)

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REVIEW OF LITERATURE
1. According to a study conducted by Brayne A B, Brayne
R P and Fowler A J to find the relationship between
medical speciality, age of death and cause of death of
doctors it was found that a doctor’s speciality has a
significant association with their age at death. The
data were collected from obituaries published in the
British Medical Journal between January 1997 and
August 2019 which were analysed for differences in
age and cause of death and relative survival analysis
compared to the general UK population. The oldest
average age at death were for general practitioners
followed by surgeons and pathologists. Same time, the
youngest average age of death was noticed amongst
emergency physicians followed by anaesthetists and
radiologists

2. An investigation was done by Pandey SK and Sharma V


to find the reasons for sudden and premature death
among doctors in India (2023). In their article they
have mentioned overwork, stress, lack of sound sleep,
physical activity and regular health checkups as
primary reasons for early death of doctors. It is
suggested that medical professionals should do regular
medical checkup to detect early and decrease the risk
of potential diseases.

3. According to Indian Medical Association's research,


deskbound job and inactive lifestyle, lack of exercise,
stress and obesity are primary insti‐ gators of heart
diseases in the medical fraternity. Although the risk of

3
heart diseases increases with age, doctors avoid
having a regular medical checkup and tend to rely on
self-diagnosis and treatment.[8] This often results in
severe outcomes in the form of sudden heart attacks
that can cause loss of life even in young age group.
4. Many doctors are uncomfortable getting treatment
from fellow physicians. This practice is especially
prevalent in the regime of mental health. Categorized
as “VIP syndrome”, doctors are held back from the
required treatment due to their concerns about
confidentiality and reserva‐ tions pertinent to therapy
or treatment effectiveness

5. Suicide among Indian doctors is a concern. Majority


are young undergraduate and postgraduate medical
students. Suicide among female doctors is more than
male doctors. Most doctors were reported to be
depressed, not seeking help and used lethal method
such as hanging and injectable medications to end
their lives. There is an urgent need for preventive
strategies to be initiated both at institutions and
professional organization.

6. Doctors in developing countries are reported to have


high grades of anxiety and depression.

7. The life expectancy of doctors is 59 years as compared


to 67.9 years of an average person in India.

8. Doctors must keep up with a healthy lifestyle with


sound sleep, regular exercises, yoga and physical
activity to avoid conditions like obesity, smoking which

4
lead to heart diseases and other medical issues.
Getting regular medical checkups and timely
treatments are necessary. Secondly, avoiding
treatment for mental health issues only worsens the
problem. It is important that legislative measures are
taken to improve the conduct of mental health
interventions to make doctors and other people more
secure and confident in approaching help. Looking
after one's self is a duty every

The research gap or the theoretical gap of knowledge in this


area of study is the lack of previous research conducted on
the shortening of lifespan of doctors particularly in the
district of Kozhikode.

DEVELOPMENT OF SURVEY METHODS


The method of data collection was decided to be in the form
of a questionnaire. The questionnaire was made keeping in
mind the aim to collect information regarding the stress
levels, quality of life, and general health of the doctor in
question. It includes elements taken from verbal autopsy
methods to better understand the cause of death of the
doctor and its link to their lifestyle. See questionnaire in
appendix below.

5
CONDUCTING OF SURVEY
The questionnaire is to be distributed among the family of
deceased doctor. Preferably in person or over the phone,
however in cases where this is not possible a google form
containing the questions will be sent to the family.

DATA ANALYSIS
Graphs comparing:

Field

Degree of risk

Degree of exposure

Hrs of work

Hrs of sleep

Hrs of exercise

BMI

Diabetic

Hypertensive

Cholesterol

REPORT PREPERATION

6
MITIGATION STRATEGIES

REFERENCES:
Doctor, heal thyself: Addressing the shorter life expectancy
of doctors in India, by Suresh K Pandey and Vidushi Sharma

S K Pandey and V Sharma, 2023, Sudden and Premature


death among doctors: How to save the saviours?, Open
access journal of Ophthalmology 8(2): 000291.

Montgomery AJ, Bradley C, Rochfort A, Panagopoulou E. A


review of self-medication in physicians and medical
students. Occup Med. 2011;4(61):490–7.

Andrew LB, Brenner BE. Physician suicide. Medscape Drugs


Dis. 2015:17.

Kishor M, Chandran S, Vinay, H R, Ram D, 2021, Suicide


among Indian doctors, Indian Journal of Psychiatry 63(3): p
279-284.

Atif K, Khan HU, Ullah MZ, Shah FS, Latif A. Prevalence of


anxiety and depression among doctors; the unscreened and
undiagnosed clientele in Lahore, Pakistan. Pak J Med Sci.
2016;32:294–8.

Kazi P. Doctors take care of patients but not themselves?


The study shows doctors have a shorter lifespan than others
[Internet]. International Business Times, India Edition 2019.

7
Pandey S K, Sharma V, 2019, Doctor, heal thyself:
Addressing the shorter life expectancy of doctors in India,
67(7): 1248-1250.

ADVISORY TEAM (to be confirmed):

Dr Kuriakose – Former Principal of Govt. medical college


Kannur, Former HOD of cardiovascular and thoracic surgery
and superintendent of super speciality block of Kozhikode
Govt. Medical College Hospital

Dr Peeyush Namboodiripad – DMO, Kannur

Dr Manju Sadasivan – Senior consultant, Pediatrics

Dr P V Aravind – Professor, Groningen University

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APPENDIX

Questionnaire
BIODATA
Name:
Sex:
Date of Birth:
Date of Death:
Age of Death:
Height:
Weight:

PRE-EXISTING CONDITIONS

Congenital disease:
Disease acquired before entering medical field:
Diseases acquired after entering medical field (Diabetes,
High Blood Pressure, Thyroid, etc.):
Any regular medication:
Any previous surgeries:

9
WORK ENVIRONMENT

Specialty:
Working hours (weekly):
Max. Length of shift:
Was the hospital adequately staffed and equipped:
Degree of risk:
Degree of exposure:

HEALTH

Hours of sleep (daily):


Hours of exercise (weekly):
Diet (homemade/outside, frequency):
Did they skip meals (frequency):
Did they smoke tobacco (packets per day):
Did they consume alcohol (frequency):
Substance abuse:
Allergies:

DEATH

Cause of death:
Any connections to work:
Sudden /slow:

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