Psychosocial Work Environment in the Operating Room of Greek Public Hospitals: A Cross-Sectional Study Among Ophthalmology Residents Using the Copenhagen Psychosocial Questionnaire.

BACKGROUND

The psychosocial work environment influences medical residents' well-being, job satisfaction, and performance. In surgical specialties such as ophthalmology, residents face unique demands due to high workloads, technical complexity, and hierarchical structures. However, national-level evidence from Greece is scarce, limited to targeted interventions.

METHODS

A quantitative, cross-sectional study was conducted among 81 ophthalmology residents in public hospitals in Athens, Greece, using the validated Greek version of the Copenhagen Psychosocial Questionnaire, second version (COPSOQ II). Sociodemographic characteristics were collected, and correlations between psychosocial factors and job satisfaction were analyzed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences version 26.0 (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY).

RESULTS

The response rate was 100%. Higher quantitative and cognitive demands were associated with increased emotional demands (ρ = 0.28, p = 0.012; ρ = 0.40, p < 0.001), emotional suppression (ρ = 0.23, p = 0.036; ρ = 0.26, p = 0.021), and sensory strain (ρ = 0.42, p < 0.001), along with reduced freedom in work (ρ = -0.24, p = 0.033), meaning of work (ρ = -0.22, p = 0.047), social support (ρ = -0.26, p = 0.019), and job satisfaction (ρ = -0.24, p = 0.029). Job resources, such as influence at work, possibilities for development, role clarity, and social support, were positively related to job satisfaction (ρ = 0.26-0.53, p < 0.05) and team feeling (ρ = 0.26-0.45, p < 0.01) and negatively related to role conflicts (ρ = -0.23 to -0.47, p < 0.05). Role conflicts were strongly associated with lower leadership quality (ρ = -0.36, p = 0.001), weaker social support (ρ = -0.47, p < 0.001), and reduced job satisfaction (ρ = -0.43, p < 0.001). Development opportunities showed a particularly strong positive association with job satisfaction (ρ = 0.26, p = 0.020) and meaning of work (ρ = 0.54, p < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

These findings highlight the importance of addressing psychosocial stressors in residency programs. Interventions such as workload management, mentoring, and leadership training could foster healthier work environments, enhance job satisfaction, and ultimately improve patient care.