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FACTORS OF THE WORKING ENVIRONMENT AS POTENTIAL TRIGGERS OF PSYCHOEMOTIONAL COMPLAINTS IN SURGICAL ONCOLOGISTS

FACTORS OF THE WORKING ENVIRONMENT AS POTENTIAL TRIGGERS OF PSYCHOEMOTIONAL COMPLAINTS IN SURGICAL ONCOLOGISTS

ISSN 2223-6775 Ukrainian journal of occupational health Vol.21, No 3, 2025

https://doi.org/10.33573/ujoh2025.03.247

FACTORS OF THE WORKING ENVIRONMENT AS POTENTIAL TRIGGERS OF PSYCHOEMOTIONAL COMPLAINTS IN SURGICAL ONCOLOGISTS

Zavgorodnii I.¹, Litovchenko O.¹, Makhota L.S.², Koval S.V.¹, Boeckelmann I.³

¹ Kharkiv National Medical University, Kharkiv, Ukraine
² State Institution “Kharkiv Regional Center for Disease Control and Prevention of the Ministry of Health of Ukraine”, Kharkiv, Ukraine
³ Otto von Guericke University of Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany

Full article (PDF), UKR

Introduction. Professional burnout among healthcare workers is one of the most pressing issues in modern occupational medicine. High levels of psychological stress, prolonged exposure to stressors, complex moral and ethical aspects of the job, and an intense pace of work contribute to the development of somatic and psychosomatic disorders. Particular attention should be paid to oncologists, who are characterized by a high frequency of emotional exhaustion, chronic fatigue, sleep disturbances, and musculoskeletal pain. Assessing the relationship between workplace conditions and the severity of psychosomatic complaints is an important step in developing preventive measures.

Aim. To identify the associations between physical factors in the operating room environment and the prevalence of psychosomatic complaints among oncologists in Kharkiv.

Materials and methods. Medical workers specializing in oncology, whose professional activities are associated with psycho-emotional and occupational stress, were examined. The psychophysiological state was assessed using the Beschwerdefragebogen (BFB) questionnaire, which enables a quantitative evaluation of physical and mental symptoms. Simultaneously, a hygienic assessment of the working environment in the operating rooms during surgical interventions was carried out in accordance with current standards for microclimate, lighting, and noise indicators. Correlation and regression analyses were performed to determine possible associations.

Results. Sixty-nine oncologists participated in the study, including 31 men and 38 women. The average age of respondents was 40.3 ± 1.5 years. It was found that 40.6% of respondents exhibited a neurotic type of response, which was more common among women (47.4%) than men (32.3%). Physical complaints were also higher among female doctors (7.6 ± 6.6) compared to males (4.7 ± 5.9; p ≤ 0.036). Mental complaints in women were significantly higher than in men (7.0 ± 5.4 vs. 3.7 ± 4.4; p ≤ 0.008). The most frequent complaints among respondents were fatigue, neck and back pain, headaches, loss of strength, indecision, and doubts about the correctness of professional actions.

Hygienic assessment of workplace factors showed compliance with upper normative limits for microclimate and lighting, but a periodic increase in noise levels up to 53 dBA was recorded, which may act as an additional stressor.

Correlation and regression analyses did not reveal statistically significant associations between the measured occupational factors and doctors’ complaints; however, a tendency toward a positive relationship between age and neuroticism was observed.

Conclusions. The professional activity of oncologists is accompanied by pronounced psycho-emotional stress. Even when hygienic parameters of the working environment meet regulatory standards, there is a tendency toward greater emotional strain and higher somatization among women. The findings emphasize the need to develop preventive programs aimed at reducing psycho-emotional stress, optimizing working conditions, and implementing psychological support systems for healthcare personnel, taking gender aspects into account.

Keywords: psychosomatic complaints, professional burnout, questionnaire, oncologists, microclimate, noise, illumination.

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