Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Email this article to a Colleague Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to My Articles & Searches Download to citation manager Citing Articles via HighWire Articles by Bazargan, M. Articles by Wolf, K. E. Articles by Bazargan, M. Articles by Wolf, K. E.

Preventive, Lifestyle, and Personal Health Behaviors Among Physicians

Received March 6, 2008; revised May 20 and August 4, 2008; accepted August 21, 2008. Drs. Bazargan, Makar, Ani, and Wolf are affiliated with Charles Drew University of Medicine and Science in Los Angeles; Dr. Bazargan-Hejazi is affiliated with the Department of Psychiatry at Charles Drew University and UCLA in Los Angeles. Address correspondence to Mohsen Bazargan, Charles Drew University of Medicine & Science, Research Center in Minority Institutions, 1731 East 120th St., Los Angeles, CA 90059; mobazarg{at}cdrewu.edu (e-mail).

OBJECTIVE: This study examines personal health behaviors and wellness, health-related lifestyles, and prevention screening practices among licensed physicians. METHODS: An anonymous questionnaire was mailed to a random sample of 1,875 physicians practicing in California. Data from 763 returned questionnaires (41%) were analyzed. RESULTS: Our data show that 7% of this sample were clinically depressed, 13% reported using sedatives or tranquilizers, over 53% reported severe to moderate stress, and only 38% described their level of daily stress as slight. About 4% self-reported recent marijuana use. More than 6% screened positive for alcohol abuse and 5% for gambling problems. Thirty-five percent of participants reported "no" or "occasional" exercise. About 27% self-reported "never" or "occasionally" eating breakfast. In addition, 34% reported 6 or fewer hours of sleep daily, while 21% self-reported working more than 60 hours per week. Physicians’ excessive number of work hours (more than 65 hours per week) was associated with lack of exercise, not eating breakfast, and sleeping fewer than 6 hours per night. California physicians report breast, cervical, colorectal, and prostate cancer screening behaviors that exceeded population estimates in California and Healthy People 2010 national goals. CONCLUSION: Additional interventions designed to improve physicians’ lifestyles and personal health behaviors should be encouraged. A focus on creating healthy lifestyles will benefit physicians as much as the general population.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				L. W. Roberts Hard Duty Acad Psychiatry, July 1, 2009; 33(4): 274 - 277. [Full Text] [PDF]

Get information about faster international access.

Privacy Policy

Copyright © 2009 Academic Psychiatry. All rights reserved.

Home | Search | Current Issue | Past Issues | Subscribe | All APPI Journals | Help | Contact Us