Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) among Pediatric Residents at the Philippine Children`s Medical Center (PCMC)

Background: Presently, there are no studies on the prevalence of PTSD among healthcare professionals in the Philippines. PTSD may contribute to poor performance and poor interpersonal relationship in the workplace.

Objectives: To determine the prevalence of PTSD among our pediatric residents and to identify external stressors and internal vulnerabilites predisposing to PTSD.

Methods: The Institutional Review Board approved this protocol. Informed Consent Forms were obtained. The study design was cross-sectional. All pediatric residents from the 1st to the 3rd year levels were recruited. All answered the PTSD Checklist Civilian Version questionnaire. Their demographic profiles, external stressors (clinical areas of rotation, hours of sleep), and internal vulnerabilities (past personal history of depression, suicidal ideation, subjective perception of difficulty) were recorded. Frequencies, percentages, and Pearson Correlation Analysis were computed.

Results: 60 pediatric residents paticipated. 16.7% showed symptoms of PTSD. Among the PTSD-symptomatic residenrts, 90% were females; 40% belonged to the 1st year level, and another 40% to the 3rd year. The most stressful clinical area identified was the Emergency Room (40%) and 50% had only less than 3 hours of sleep on their 24-hour tour of duty. Furthermore, 20% had personal history of depression and suicidal ideation. None of these PTSD-symptomatic were under the care of a psychiatrist and only 30% of them were willing to seek professional help. These stressors and vulnerabilities were not significantly correlated to the development of PTSD symptoms.

Conclusion: The prevalence of probable PTSD in this study was high. No single most reliable stressor nor vulnerability seemed to predict PTSD. Multiple factors most probably come into play over time to produce PTSD symptoms. The high prevalence of probable PTSD in this study is a reason for great concern. Added to the seriousness of the matter is the fact that none of them were under the care of a psychiatrist and only 30% were willing to seek professional help.