Help-seeking for depression among Australian doctors.

BACKGROUND

Depression is common among doctors. However, concerns remain that doctors are unlikely to ask for help when symptoms of depression arise.

AIMS

To determine rates and patterns of help-seeking for depression among doctors and to identify predictors of and barriers to such behaviour.

METHODS

A secondary analysis was conducted on a nation-wide survey of 12 252 Australian doctors. The study sample consisted of doctors who reported having ever felt seriously depressed (n = 4154; 33.9% of total sample). Rates of help-seeking, professional help-seeking behaviours and self-reported barriers were explored. Logistic regression was used to examine the association between professional help-seeking and predetermined predictive factors.

RESULTS

Sixty percent (95% confidence interval (CI): 58.5-61.5) of doctors who have ever felt seriously depressed reported some form of professional help-seeking for depression. The most common barrier to help-seeking was 'privacy/confidentiality'. Females (odds ratio (OR) = 1.74; 95% CI: 1.50-2.01; P < 0.001), locally trained doctors (OR = 1.34; 95% CI: 1.12-1.59; P = 0.001) and senior doctors (OR = 1.35; 95% CI: 1.14-1.61; P = 0.001) were more likely to seek professional help than their counterparts. Compared with general practitioners, psychiatrists (OR = 1.565; 95% CI: 1.15-2.13; P = 0.004) were more likely to seek professional help while surgeons (OR = 0.518; 95% CI: 0.37-0.72; P < 0.001) and pathologists/radiologists (OR = 0.695; 95% CI: 0.49-0.99; P = 0.043) were less likely.

CONCLUSION

While it is reassuring that the majority of depressed doctors were able to seek professional help, many were not. Major barriers to professional help-seeking, particularly concerns about confidentiality and impact on career, remain a problem. Male, overseas-trained, junior doctors, surgeons and pathologists/radiologists were less likely to seek help for depression. Targeted interventions are required to increase appropriate help-seeking for depression in doctors.