Working conditions, psychosocial factors and health effects of medical residents and practitioners in a Mexican hospital

Methods: A cross-sectional study with a sample of convenience was carried out. A questionnaire was applied to 45 physicians and 43 residents of five medical specialties in a hospital. The statistic analysis was made with SPSS package. Results: The mean and median age was 42 years old in doctors. In residents mean and median were 27 years old, p <0.00. 100% of the residents and 17% of physicians, have to work on extra hour time. 70% of residents of the first and second year, 40% of the third and fourth and 7% of doctors, worked over 86 hours per week, p = 0. 000 The most referred psycho-social factors at work were: excessive responsibility, stress or distress, excessive supervision and monotony, there were significant differences between the perception of practitioners, and students from different grades of specialty, p <0.001 We also found significant differences, p = 0.001, at health problems. The most common were physical and / or mental impairment, sleep disorders, gastritis, irritable bowel, anxiety, depression, decreased coordination and decreased mental concentration, abnormal appetite and weight alterations, lipid disorders and hypertension. Conclusions: In this study we found differences in working conditions and hierarchies in the medical profession, which affect health and environment for those with higher demands during their working hours.