Harald B Jurkat1, Christian Vollmert, Christian Reimer. 1. Klinik für Psychosomatik und Psychotherapie der Justus-Liebig-Universität Giessen, Friedrichstr. 33, 35385 Giessen, Germany. Harald.B.Jurkat@psycho.med.uni-giessen.de
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: Conflict experience has been qualitatively assessed in a representative study of German hospital physicians. METHODS: To explore conflict experience, standardized interviews were conducted. These were evaluated using the qualitative content analysis according to Mayring and supplemented by psychometric testing methods SF-36 (Bullinger and Kirchberger 1998) and EBF (Kallus 1995). RESULTS: Conflicts regarding personal needs are the most numerous in the four main areas of administrative workload, time pressure, working overtime, and career prospects - particularly in relation to time pressure. Control concerning administrative workload is attributed mostly externally, whereas control attribution concerning career prospects is mostly internal. Quality of life of hospital physicians is impaired in the area of mental health. CONCLUSIONS: The results indicate that it is necessary to reduce the physicians' working hours and, especially, time pressure. Additional possibilities for enhancing motivation and for improving coping skills with respect to conflicts are discussed.
OBJECTIVES: Conflict experience has been qualitatively assessed in a representative study of German hospital physicians. METHODS: To explore conflict experience, standardized interviews were conducted. These were evaluated using the qualitative content analysis according to Mayring and supplemented by psychometric testing methods SF-36 (Bullinger and Kirchberger 1998) and EBF (Kallus 1995). RESULTS: Conflicts regarding personal needs are the most numerous in the four main areas of administrative workload, time pressure, working overtime, and career prospects - particularly in relation to time pressure. Control concerning administrative workload is attributed mostly externally, whereas control attribution concerning career prospects is mostly internal. Quality of life of hospital physicians is impaired in the area of mental health. CONCLUSIONS: The results indicate that it is necessary to reduce the physicians' working hours and, especially, time pressure. Additional possibilities for enhancing motivation and for improving coping skills with respect to conflicts are discussed.