Perceived stress and sleep quality among private medical practitioners in a south Indian city

ABSTRACT Background: Stress and sleep disturbances are significant occupational health concerns among physicians worldwide. Private medical practitioners may be especially vulnerable due to the unique pressures of solo practice, high patient loads, administrative responsibilities, and limited institutional support. Aims: To assess perceived stress levels and sleep quality among private medical practitioners in a South Indian city. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted between June and July 2024 among 123 private medical practitioners (MBBS or higher qualification) engaged in at least six months of continuous private practice. Data were collected using printed and online questionnaires capturing sociodemographic details, Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10), and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) scores. Statistical Analysis Used: Data were analysed using SPSS version 25. Descriptive statistics, t-tests, ANOVA, Pearson correlation, and linear regression were used. Results: The mean age of participants was 39.6 ± 9.4 years, with 63.4% males and 36.6% females. The mean PSS-10 score was 19.7 ± 5.4, with 17.1% reporting low stress, 69.1% moderate stress, and 13.8% high perceived stress. The mean PSQI score was 7.8 ± 3.1, with 70.7% showing poor sleep quality. Females had significantly higher mean stress scores ( P = 0.033) and non-significantly higher PSQI scores ( P = 0.08) than males. Patient load positively correlated with stress ( r = 0.23, P = 0.011). A strong positive correlation was observed between perceived stress and sleep quality scores ( r = 0.61, P < 0.001). Regression analysis confirmed perceived stress as a significant predictor of sleep quality. Conclusion: A substantial proportion of private medical practitioners in this South Indian city experience moderate-to-high stress and poor sleep quality, with significant associations between these variables.