Seventy percent of young doctors overworked, 20 percent depressed

More than 70 percent of young doctors are overworked, while nearly 20 percent suffer from depression, a survey has found. 

A survey by the Hong Kong Academy of Medicine conducted interviews between February to June in 2019 with 514 specialist training doctors, including young doctors who have completed specialist training within the last 10 years.

The results found that 72.6 percent were overworked. Seventy percent of the respondents said that their fatigue was work-related and 55 percent said to be patient-related. 

It also pointed out that 24 percent were dissatisfied with their positions, and 21 percent of the respondents reported symptoms of depression.

The Hong Kong Academy of Medicine has launched the "Charter for Physical and Mental Health" program to promote the physical and mental health of health care workers.

The survey result was published on Hong Kong Medical Journal. 

The Academy believes that local doctors are overworked due to long working hours, high workloads, and increased expectations from the patients.

They proposed to adopt the ASAP model -- Awareness, Self-Care, Ask for help, and Promotion of well-being -- and educate on how to manage the early signs of excessive stress.