Most members of the medical profession feel stressed at some time. If stress is ongoing, impairment may occur (defined as being unable to safely or reliably perform one's role). A continuum appears to exist between functioning well, being distressed and becoming impaired, with external (environment-related) and internal (personal-related) stressors determining where an individual will lie on the continuum.
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This study was supported by grants from the Postgraduate Medical Council of NSW and the NSW Medical Board.