Int.j.pathol.2017;15(4):171-176 171 Original Article Physicians’ Physical and Mental Health Status and their Personal Health Practices in Tertiary Care Hospitals Almas F Khattak * , Naheed Mahsood ** , Akbar Said Jan *** and Iqbal Wahid * *Department of Medical Education, Northwest School of Medicine, ** Department of Medical Education Khyber Girls Medical College, ***Department of Anesthesiology Northwest General Hospital Peshawar, Pakistan Background: There is convincing evidence that physicians, who have poor personal physical and mental health, directly affect the health and safety of their patients. On the contrary, physicians with healthier personal lifestyles and health related practices can create better awareness among their patients regarding counselling and motivation to adopt healthy practices. Objective: Study the physical and mental health status and to compare these with the health practices of physicians in private and public tertiary care hospitals in Peshawar Methodology: A self-administered questionnaire was used to conduct a cross-sectional study to examine Pakistani physicians’ personal health practices. Duration of the study was 6 months. A multistage random sampling technique was used to sample 424 male/female and consultant/trainee physicians from eight public and private hospitals of Peshawar. Descriptive and analytical analyses were performed using SPSS version 20.0. Results: About 59% had normal BMI, 34% were overweight or obese (older>younger) whereas, 7% of physicians were underweight (F>M). About 39% female and 44% male physicians had done physical check-up within the past 2 years, 73% had never checked their cholesterol and only 11% had received influenza vaccination in the past year. Almost 92% of physicians enjoyed good or excellent health. For 40% of Pakistani physicians, poor physical or mental health had made it difficult to work properly at least some time in the past month. About 10% said they felt depressed in the past year while 40% said that a long-term health condition reduced their work activity at least sometimes. Only half agreed they had a good work-life balance, while 38% disagreed that their work environment encouraged them to be healthy (F>M, younger>older). Conclusion: Overall, physicians appear to have healthy lifestyle. The health and well-being of women and younger physicians needed special attention. Specific interventional programs directed at improving physician health in Pakistan are recommended not only to benefit physicians but to improve the prospects of healthy lifestyles for their patients. Keywords: Physical and Mental Health of physicians, Physicians’ Health Practices, Public and Private hospitals, Pakistan Introduction Being a physician could have potential harmful effects on one’s own health because the noble profession of medicine is very demanding, not only physically but also mentally and emotionally. Physicians lead a very busy and complex life as they have to work for prolonged and irregular hours, dealing with life and death situations, ignoring and sacrificing their own health and life in the greater interest of their patients. 1 AUTHOR’S CORRESPONDENCE: Dr. Almas Khattak Research Associate NORTHWEST SCHOOL OF MEDICINE NWSM, Peshawar, Pakistan Email:almasfasih@gmail.com To enter the prestigious and honourable profession of medicine, a physician has to go through an exhausting process of academics and training involving more than just a career or a livelihood. Given the altruistic nature of the medical profession, physicians are often expected to prefer their patients’ wellbeing over their own health needs. Physicians are also expected to be in perfect health and without vulnerabilities, discouraging them from seeking help when they genuinely need it. 2 There is convincing evidence that physicians, who have poor personal physical and mental health, directly affect the health and safety of their patients. On the contrary, physicians with healthier personal lifestyles and health related practices can create better awareness among their patients regarding counselling and motivation to