To assess prevalence of stress among all Emergency department staff at University of Child Health Sciences, The Children’s Hospital Lahore

Abstract

Background: Stress is a state of emotional exhaustion that is widely experienced by health care professional. It is commonly known that hospitals and health care providing institutes absorbs stress more than any other field. The doctors, nurses and paramedics have to be on their toes to provide quality lifesaving services.Thus it turns to be hectic both physically and emotionally and instigate stress among the staff. This study is descriptive in nature, and was conducted at emergency department of University of Child Health Sciences, The Children’s Hospital, including Medical and Surgical Emergencies during Jan 2021 to June 2021.

Objective: The aim of current study is to know the prevalence of stress among the emergency department staff and to explore the associated factors o stress. Moreover, it is intended to identify the coping and stress management strategies employed by the emergency staff of UCHS.

Methods: Data basing upon 96 participants was collected by filling predesigned questionnaires by every individual participated on level of stress through behavioral, emotional, and psychological aspects collected and 15-20 minutes had been served on each participant. Data was analyzed by using SPSS 21 which was based on themes and codes formulated from collected data. Before conducting the study, a preliminary coding was done from previous researches, which incorporated four levels of controlling aspect namely: behavioral, psychological, emotional and cognitive. Coding was done manually buy identifying common ideas of each member. The final transcripts made from questionnaires and interviews were reviewed by all researchers in form of group as well as individually to ensure validity of findings.

Results: In this study, out if 96 participants, 59.38% (57) were Doctors, 37.50% (36) were Nurses and 3.13% (3) were paramedical staff. 65.63% (63) participants were female and34.38% (33) were male. 52.08% (50) participants were unmarried while 47.92% (46) participants were married. In the Emergency Department of this Hospital, the Doctors and Nurses are overburdened. Staff nurses were busy most in doing non-nursing activities (like nursing administrative work and clerical work), which increased their stress levels. Married and Female staff had faced more stress as compared to unmarried and male staff. Our study showed Stress level in emergency staff which is statistically significant.

Conclusion: In the emergency department of our hospital, Doctors and Nurses are overburdened. Staff nurses were most of the time busy in doing non-nursing activities (e.g. Clerical work) which increased their stress levels. Stress management program for the staff nurses working in the emergency services is the need of the hour in our country. The High job-related stress levels suggest possible future work in this significant area for the benefit of patient care in emergency unit of hospital.