Health-related quality of life of doctors and nurses in China: findings based on the latest open-access data

Objective To assess the health-related quality of life (QOL) of doctors and nurses using the recent free-access data. Methods The health-related QOL data of doctors and nurses came from a sub-survey of the Fourth National Health Services Survey (NHSS) of China in 2008, which used the European Quality of Life-5 Dimensions 3 level version (EQ-5D-3L) to measure the QOL. We used logistic regression to compare the percentage of respondents reporting any problems for each dimension of the EQ-5D-3L descriptive system between inhabitants aged 15-64 years and doctors and nurses. Results Fewer doctors and nurses reported problems in mobility (1.9%) than inhabitants aged 15-64 years (2.9%) (odds ratio = 0.65). No difference was detected in self-care problem. Compared with inhabitants aged 15-64 years, a relatively large proportion of doctors and nurses reported problems in usual activities (3.4% vs. 2.7%; odds ratio = 1.27), pain/discomfort (18.1% vs. 6.7%; odds ratio = 3.08), and anxiety/depression (24.6% vs. 5.1%; odds ratio = 6.07). The EQ-VAS score mean of doctors and nurses approached that of inhabitants aged 15-64 years (82 vs. 79). Conclusion Compared with inhabitants aged 15-64 years, doctors and nurses have relatively poor health in usual activities, self-reporting pain/discomfort, and anxiety/depression.