(in German)

Background: Occupational health physicians have the task of advising and supporting employers in the assessment of working conditions and the protection of health of employees. This also applies to risks of psychosocial stress. While this expectation is due to relevant legal regulations, it is less known how occupational physicians actually deal with psychosocial stress in practice.

Methodology: With the help of a systematic literature review and six structured interviews with occupational health physicians in Germany in 2021, the status of psychosocial stress in occupational healthcare was explored as well as the requirements, beneficial conditions, and barriers encountered in this field.

Results There are recommendations and guidelines for occupational physicians on how to deal with psychosocial stress. According to the (few) studies available, psychosocial stress has not been systematically addressed in occupational healthcare practice to date. There are only weak ties between occupational healthcare and the risk assessment of psychosocial stress. The interviews make it clear that the "if and how" of addressing mental stress strongly depends on the self-image of the physicians.

Discussion: The interviews and literature suggest that the potential of occupational health counselling and prevention for the topic of "mental stress" is not (yet) systematically tapped and used. The study results presented can initiate further research and contribute to further establishing practical measures, such as risk assessment by understanding the attitudes of occupational physicians more precisely.

This article is published in the Journal "Zentralblatt für Arbeitsmedizin, Arbeitsschutz und Ergonomie" (2023).

Please download the article "Consideration of mental stress in occupational medical practice" (in German only).