• D Østergaard, M D Madsen, P Cedergreen, K L Mikkelsen, F P Treschow, and J Nielsen.
• Copenhagen Academy for Medical Education and Simulation, Centre for Human Resources and Education, Capital Region of Denmark, Copenhagen, Denmark.
• Acta Anaesthesiol Scand. 2025 Feb 1; 69 (2): e14569e14569.

BackgroundMental health issues among healthcare professionals (HCPs) are rising, impacting individual wellbeing, healthcare systems, and patient safety. This exploratory study aimed to analyse the association between anaesthesia teams' perception of their mental wellbeing, psychosocial work environment, and patient safety culture in a university hospital's anaesthesiology department. Second, to identify types of stressors and strategies to overcome them. Third, to explore differences in perception by profession, gender, and years of experience. Finally, to evaluate the psychometric properties of the questionnaire.MethodsA questionnaire covering mental wellbeing, teamwork, psychosocial work environment, and patient safety culture was sent to all HCPs in the department in May 2021 via e-mail. The questionnaire consisted of 35 questions, 4 demographic questions, and 2 open text fields.Results293 HCPs responded (73% response rate); 60% agreed their work is emotionally challenging, and 30% experienced weekly emotional strain. Significant differences were seen between professions in terms of stressors. Clinical situations contributed most to doctors' emotional strain, while nurses scored higher on making compromises and being busy. A strong relationship was seen between weekly/daily emotional strain and making compromises in standards, clinical situations, and busyness.ConclusionIn conclusion, all HCPs experienced emotional strain, with different causes and coping strategies across professions. Support was primarily found among colleagues and networks. Interestingly, low emotional strain correlated positively with coping, teamwork, psychological safety, and patient safety culture, suggesting an interrelation between these dimensions and HCPs' mental health. These findings may inform future conceptualisations of mental health, psychological safety, and safety culture.© 2025 Acta Anaesthesiologica Scandinavica Foundation.

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