{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,3]],"date-time":"2026-09-03T06:13:37Z","timestamp":1788416017289,"version":"build-2803163510"},"reference-count":49,"publisher":"Frontiers Media SA","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,3]],"date-time":"2026-09-03T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1788393600000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["frontiersin.org"],"crossmark-restriction":true},"short-container-title":["Front. Med."],"abstract":"<jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Background<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Work-related distress may present in primary care through nonspecific physical, psychological, or functional complaints. This study assessed professional quality of life in a United Arab Emirates medical-school workforce through primary-care and occupational-health perspectives.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Methods<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>A cross-sectional electronic survey was conducted among employees of the College of Medicine and Health Sciences, United Arab Emirates University, between October 2025 and February 2026. The sampling frame comprised 373 employees. Professional quality of life was assessed using the Professional Quality of Life Scale, Version 5. Descriptive statistics, reliability analysis, subgroup comparisons, correlations, and sensitivity analyses were performed.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Results<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>\n                      Of 373 eligible employees, 162 responded to the survey invitation, 140 were retained after consent confirmation, 109 reached the ProQOL section, and 108 had usable ProQOL subscale scores. Faculty members accounted for 56.9% of respondents and non-faculty employees for 43.1%. Mean scores were 38.88 (SD\u202f=\u202f5.70) for compassion satisfaction, 22.35 (SD\u202f=\u202f5.13) for burnout, and 23.67 (SD\u202f=\u202f6.24) for secondary traumatic stress. Compassion satisfaction was mostly moderate or high, burnout was low or moderate, and secondary traumatic stress was mostly low or moderate. Cronbach\u2019s alpha coefficients were 0.857, 0.747, and 0.838, respectively. No statistically significant differences were detected between faculty and non-faculty employees across ProQOL domains. Compassion satisfaction was strongly and negatively correlated with burnout (\n                      <jats:italic>r<\/jats:italic>\n                      \u202f=\u202f\u22120.620,\n                      <jats:italic>p<\/jats:italic>\n                      \u202f&amp;lt;\u202f0.0001), while burnout was moderately and positively correlated with secondary traumatic stress (\n                      <jats:italic>r<\/jats:italic>\n                      \u202f=\u202f0.535,\n                      <jats:italic>p<\/jats:italic>\n                      \u202f&amp;lt;\u202f0.0001).\n                    <\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Conclusion<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Professional meaning was generally preserved, but workload-related strain remained evident. The findings support attention in primary care to occupational context, functioning, recovery, and work-life boundaries. They also support coordinated consideration of workload and access to support by institutional leadership, human resources, and occupational-health services. These implications are hypothesis-generating because specific job demands, resources, and intervention effects were not measured.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.3389\/fmed.2026.1933465","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,3]],"date-time":"2026-09-03T05:23:03Z","timestamp":1788412983000},"update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3389\/crossmark-policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Work-related distress and professional quality of life in a medical-school workforce: a primary-care occupational-health perspective"],"prefix":"10.3389","volume":"13","author":[{"given":"Falah Mohammed","family":"Almarzooqi","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Family Medicine, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, United Arab Emirates University","place":["Al Ain, United Arab Emirates"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Saif","family":"Al-Shamsi","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, United Arab Emirates University","place":["Al Ain, United Arab Emirates"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Syed Fahad","family":"Javaid","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Psychiatry, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, United Arab Emirates University","place":["Al Ain, United Arab Emirates"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Afaf","family":"Alblooshi","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Medical Education, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, United Arab Emirates University","place":["Al Ain, United Arab Emirates"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Faten","family":"AlRadini","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Family and Community Medicine, College of Medicine, Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University","place":["Riyadh, Saudi Arabia"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1965","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,3]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref1","volume-title":"Burn-out an Occupational Phenomenon: International Classification of Diseases","year":"2019"},{"key":"ref2","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1780","DOI":"10.3390\/ijerph19031780","article-title":"Burnout: a review of theory and measurement","volume":"19","author":"Ed\u00fa-Valsania","year":"2022","journal-title":"Int J Environ Res Public Health"},{"key":"ref3","volume-title":"Maslach Burnout Inventory Manual","author":"Maslach","year":"1996"},{"key":"ref4","volume-title":"The Concise ProQOL Manual","author":"Stamm","year":"2010"},{"key":"ref5","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1357","DOI":"10.1016\/S0140-6736(23)00871-1","article-title":"Work as a social determinant of health in high-income countries: past, present, and future","volume":"402","author":"Frank","year":"2023","journal-title":"Lancet"},{"key":"ref6","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"106595","DOI":"10.1016\/j.envint.2021.106595","article-title":"Global, regional, and national burdens of ischemic heart disease and stroke attributable to exposure to long working hours for 194 countries, 2000\u20132016: a systematic analysis from the WHO\/ILO joint estimates of the work-related burden of disease and injury","volume":"154","author":"Pega","year":"2021","journal-title":"Environ Int"},{"key":"ref7","volume-title":"WHO Guidelines on mental Health at work","year":"2022"},{"key":"ref8","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1368","DOI":"10.1016\/s0140-6736(23)00869-3","article-title":"Work-related causes of mental health conditions and interventions for their improvement in workplaces","volume":"402","author":"Rugulies","year":"2023","journal-title":"Lancet"},{"key":"ref9","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"100998","DOI":"10.1016\/j.hrmr.2023.100998","article-title":"Mental health and well-being at work: a systematic review of literature and directions for future research","volume":"34","author":"Khalid","year":"2024","journal-title":"Hum Resour Manag Rev"},{"key":"ref10","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"198","DOI":"10.1258\/jrsm.2011.100231","article-title":"Work and common psychiatric disorders","volume":"104","author":"Henderson","year":"2011","journal-title":"J R Soc Med"},{"key":"ref11","volume-title":"Is work good for your Health and well-Being?","author":"Waddell","year":"2006"},{"key":"ref12","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"418","DOI":"10.3109\/09638288.2012.695854","article-title":"Early identification of work-related stress predicted sickness absence in employed women with musculoskeletal or mental disorders: a prospective, longitudinal study in a primary health care setting","volume":"35","author":"Holmgren","year":"2013","journal-title":"Disabil Rehabil"},{"key":"ref13","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"j2489","DOI":"10.1136\/bmj.j2489","article-title":"Stress at work","volume":"357","author":"Despr\u00e9aux","year":"2017","journal-title":"BMJ"},{"key":"ref14","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"259","DOI":"10.1007\/s10926-007-9074-3","article-title":"Work factors related to psychological and health-related distress among employees with chronic illnesses","volume":"17","author":"Munir","year":"2007","journal-title":"J Occup Rehabil"},{"key":"ref15","volume-title":"Implementing High-Quality Primary Care: Rebuilding the Foundation of Health Care","year":"2021"},{"key":"ref16","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","DOI":"10.1093\/oso\/9780195125429.001.0001","volume-title":"Primary care: Balancing Health Needs, Services, and Technology","author":"Starfield","year":"1998"},{"key":"ref17","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"132","DOI":"10.1186\/s12875-020-01203-z","article-title":"Management of work-related common mental disorders in general practice: a cross-sectional study","volume":"21","author":"Rivi\u00e8re","year":"2020","journal-title":"BMC Fam Pract"},{"key":"ref18","volume-title":"Primary care and the Working patient: Occupational Health Principles in Practice","year":"2024"},{"key":"ref19","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1110","DOI":"10.1186\/s12889-019-7452-3","article-title":"Does early identification of work-related stress, combined with feedback at GP-consultation, prevent sick leave in the following 12 months? A randomized controlled trial in primary health care","volume":"19","author":"Holmgren","year":"2019","journal-title":"BMC Public Health"},{"key":"ref20","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"142","DOI":"10.7812\/TPP\/23.032","article-title":"Burnout in academic physicians","volume":"27","author":"Banerjee","year":"2023","journal-title":"Perm J"},{"key":"ref21","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"51","DOI":"10.1037\/1072-5245.10.1.51","article-title":"Occupational stress in Australian university staff: results from a national survey","volume":"10","author":"Winefield","year":"2003","journal-title":"Int J Stress Manag"},{"key":"ref22","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"e0252778","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pone.0252778","article-title":"The impact of organizational culture on professional fulfillment and burnout in an academic department of medicine","volume":"16","author":"Burns","year":"2021","journal-title":"PLoS One"},{"key":"ref23","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"41","DOI":"10.1080\/0729436052000318569","article-title":"Occupational stress in UK higher education institutions: a comparative study of all staff categories","volume":"24","author":"Tytherleigh","year":"2005","journal-title":"High Educ Res Dev"},{"key":"ref24","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"4425","DOI":"10.3390\/jcm12134425","article-title":"Understanding and fostering mental health and well-being among university faculty: a narrative review","volume":"12","author":"Hammoudi Halat","year":"2023","journal-title":"J Clin Med"},{"key":"ref25","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"563","DOI":"10.1002\/smi.2956","article-title":"What do we know about university academics' mental health? A systematic literature review","volume":"36","author":"Urbina-Garcia","year":"2020","journal-title":"Stress Health"},{"key":"ref26","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1848","DOI":"10.1186\/s12889-024-19365-1","article-title":"Health and wellbeing of staff working at higher education institutions globally during the post-COVID-19 pandemic period: evidence from a cross-sectional study","volume":"24","author":"Rahman","year":"2024","journal-title":"BMC Public Health"},{"key":"ref27","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"302","DOI":"10.1186\/s40359-024-01801-x","article-title":"Associations between perceived occupational stressors and symptoms severity of depression, anxiety and stress among academic faculty: first cross-sectional study from Qatar","volume":"12","author":"Hammoudi Halat","year":"2024","journal-title":"BMC Psychol"},{"key":"ref28","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"3040","DOI":"10.1186\/s12889-024-20402-2","article-title":"Mental health interventions affecting university faculty: a systematic review and meta-analysis","volume":"24","author":"Hammoudi Halat","year":"2024","journal-title":"BMC Public Health"},{"key":"ref29","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"309","DOI":"10.1108\/02683940710733115","article-title":"The job demands-resources model: state of the art","volume":"22","author":"Bakker","year":"2007","journal-title":"J Manag Psychol"},{"key":"ref30","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"121","DOI":"10.17161\/kjm.vol1415171","article-title":"Burnout and compassion satisfaction: survey findings of healthcare employee wellness during COVID-19 pandemic using ProQOL","volume":"14","author":"Dwyer","year":"2021","journal-title":"Kansas J Med"},{"key":"ref31","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"330","DOI":"10.3928\/01484834-20220404-12","article-title":"Nursing faculty professional quality of life and resilience in a changing educational environment","volume":"61","author":"Rothacker-Peyton","year":"2022","journal-title":"J Nurs Educ"},{"key":"ref32","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"E55","DOI":"10.1097\/NNE.0000000000000950","article-title":"Nurse educators: professional quality of life related to conditions of work effectiveness","volume":"46","author":"Ruth-Sahd","year":"2021","journal-title":"Nurse Educ"},{"key":"ref33","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"914","DOI":"10.1016\/j.cptl.2021.06.010","article-title":"Burnout assessment at a college of pharmacy, college of optometry, and school of physician assistant studies","volume":"13","author":"Patel","year":"2021","journal-title":"Currents in Pharmacy Teaching and Learn"},{"key":"ref34","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"23779608221112329","DOI":"10.1177\/23779608221112329","article-title":"Professional quality of life among nurses: compassion satisfaction, burnout, and secondary traumatic stress: a multisite study","volume":"8","author":"Bahari","year":"2022","journal-title":"SAGE Open Nurs"},{"key":"ref35","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"NP5304","DOI":"10.1177\/0886260518799502","article-title":"Compassion satisfaction to combat work-related burnout, vicarious trauma, and secondary traumatic stress","volume":"36","author":"Cummings","year":"2021","journal-title":"J Interpers Violence"},{"key":"ref36","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"e2347894","DOI":"10.1001\/jamanetworkopen.2023.47894","article-title":"Well-being parameters and intention to leave current institution among academic physicians","volume":"6","author":"Ligibel","year":"2023","journal-title":"JAMA Netw Open"},{"key":"ref37","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"e2415593","DOI":"10.1001\/jamanetworkopen.2024.15593","article-title":"Burnout among mid-career academic medical faculty","volume":"7","author":"Paradis","year":"2024","journal-title":"JAMA Netw Open"},{"key":"ref38","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","DOI":"10.1001\/jamahealthforum.2023.1809","volume-title":"Physician and nurse well-Being and Preferred Interventions to Address Burnout in hospital Practice: Factors Associated with Turnover, Outcomes, and patient Safety","author":"Aiken","year":"2023"},{"key":"ref39","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"e255954","DOI":"10.1001\/jamanetworkopen.2025.5954","article-title":"Burnout trends among US health care workers","volume":"8","author":"Mohr","year":"2025","journal-title":"JAMA Netw Open"},{"key":"ref40","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"377","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jbi.2008.08.010","article-title":"Research electronic data capture (REDCap)\u2014a metadata-driven methodology and workflow process for providing translational research informatics support","volume":"42","author":"Harris","year":"2009","journal-title":"J Biomed Inform"},{"key":"ref41","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"103208","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jbi.2019.103208","article-title":"The REDCap consortium: building an international community of software platform partners","volume":"95","author":"Harris","year":"2019","journal-title":"J Biomed Inform"},{"key":"ref42","volume-title":"Multivariate Data Analysis","author":"Hair","year":"2010"},{"key":"ref43","volume-title":"R: A Language and Environment for Statistical Computing","year":"2025"},{"key":"ref44","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"S72","DOI":"10.1002\/job.1924","article-title":"Recovery from job stress: the stressor-detachment model as an integrative framework","volume":"36","author":"Sonnentag","year":"2015","journal-title":"J Organ Behav"},{"key":"ref45","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"454","DOI":"10.1136\/oemed-2019-106353","article-title":"Preventing sickness absence among employees with common mental disorders or stress-related symptoms at work: a cluster randomised controlled trial of a problem-solving-based intervention conducted by the occupational health services","volume":"77","author":"Keus van de Poll","year":"2020","journal-title":"Occup Environ Med"},{"key":"ref46","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"683","DOI":"10.1017\/S0033291715002408","article-title":"Workplace interventions for common mental disorders: a systematic meta-review","volume":"46","author":"Joyce","year":"2016","journal-title":"Psychol Med"},{"key":"ref47","volume-title":"Mental Health at work: Policy Brief","year":"2022"},{"key":"ref48","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"172","DOI":"10.1037\/a0038278","article-title":"Please respond ASAP: workplace telepressure and employee recovery","volume":"20","author":"Barber","year":"2015","journal-title":"J Occup Health Psychol"},{"key":"ref49","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"709","DOI":"10.1177\/1059601120933143","article-title":"The invisible leash: the impact of organizational expectations for email monitoring after-hours on employee resources, well-being, and turnover intentions","volume":"45","author":"Belkin","year":"2020","journal-title":"Group Organ Manag"}],"container-title":["Frontiers in Medicine"],"original-title":[],"link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.frontiersin.org\/articles\/10.3389\/fmed.2026.1933465\/full","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,3]],"date-time":"2026-09-03T05:23:06Z","timestamp":1788412986000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.frontiersin.org\/articles\/10.3389\/fmed.2026.1933465\/full"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,3]]},"references-count":49,"alternative-id":["10.3389\/fmed.2026.1933465"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3389\/fmed.2026.1933465","relation":{},"ISSN":["2296-858X"],"issn-type":[{"value":"2296-858X","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,3]]},"article-number":"1933465"}}