Sicorschi Gutu Cristina, Schmitz-Grosz Krisztina, Sommer-Meyer Carsten, Niklewski Günter
Medgate AG, Basel, Switzerland.
University Clinic for Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Paracelsus Medical University, Nuremberg, Germany.
Telemed Rep. 2024 Apr 25;5(1):105-113. doi: 10.1089/tmr.2024.0005. eCollection 2024.
Telemedicine, a safe way of medical care appreciated by patients, has proven to have different benefits for our health care systems. Studies on patient experiences and outcomes in telemedicine are thriving. However, few studies have explored the possible associations between telemedicine and physician work-life balance or mental health.
A cross-sectional survey for physicians who practiced in Switzerland was conducted. Physicians who participated answered validated questions about work-life balance, professional satisfaction, emotional exhaustion, and depression. There were three groups a control group with physicians who did not practice telemedicine ( = 30), an experimental group with physicians who practiced telemedicine ( = 32), and a group with physicians who left telemedicine ( = 31). The 42-question survey was open between June and August of 2023. Participation was optional, anonymous, and voluntary.
In total, 93 participants completed the questionnaire. In terms of work-life balance, the best results were observed in the telemedicine group (4.63 vs. 4.35 in the control group). A high level of exhaustion was observed in 26.7% of the control group compared with 12.5% of the telemedicine group. Low professional fulfillment was present in 62.5% of participants in the telemedicine group vs. 46.7% of participants in the control group. Among the telemedicine physicians, 21.9% of participants were suspected of having depression.
Practicing telemedicine as a profession may have a positive impact on physicians' work-life balance and burnout. Further research is necessary to explore the long-term effects of telemedicine on physicians' mental health.
远程医疗是一种受患者认可的安全医疗方式，已证明对我们的医疗系统有不同益处。关于远程医疗中患者体验和结果的研究蓬勃发展。然而，很少有研究探讨远程医疗与医生工作生活平衡或心理健康之间的可能关联。
对在瑞士执业的医生进行了一项横断面调查。参与的医生回答了关于工作生活平衡、职业满意度、情感耗竭和抑郁的有效问题。有三组：一组是不从事远程医疗的医生作为对照组（n = 30）；一组是从事远程医疗的医生作为实验组（n = 32）；还有一组是不再从事远程医疗的医生（n = 31）。这项包含42个问题的调查于2023年6月至8月开放。参与是自愿、匿名且非强制的。
共有93名参与者完成了问卷。在工作生活平衡方面，远程医疗组的结果最佳（4.63，对照组为4.35）。对照组中有26.7%的人表现出高度耗竭，而远程医疗组为12.5%。远程医疗组中有62.5%的参与者职业成就感较低，而对照组为46.7%。在从事远程医疗的医生中，21.9%的参与者疑似患有抑郁症。
将远程医疗作为一种职业实践可能对医生的工作生活平衡和职业倦怠有积极影响。有必要进一步研究以探索远程医疗对医生心理健康的长期影响。
