An investigation of factors supporting the psychological health of staff in a UK emergency department

Abstract

Study objective Research indicates emergency department doctors experience high levels of stress. Poor psychological health affects staff well-being and patient care, with considerable organisational and financial cost. This study compares levels of psychological health in medical, nursing and administrative staff from a UK emergency department with an orthopaedic comparison department. The study investigates the influence of coping strategies and the support people receive from their colleagues (ie, social support). Methods Comparative design, using self-report questionnaires comparing emergency (n¼73) and orthopaedic (n¼63) staff. Measures included: General Health Questionnaire-12, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, Brief COPE, and questions relating to social identity and social support.

Burnout in emergency department healthcare professionals is associated with coping style: a cross-sectional survey

“…Yates et al 2 found increased emotional stress in physicians but not in nurses, suggesting a tendency for higher burnout in those with more responsibility and accountability. Males were found to have a higher personal accomplishment level; this may reflect the tendency for males to use more assertiveness, a task-oriented coping skill in the workplace 32.…”

“…Level of burnout is low, medium or high using the three subscales of emotional exhaustion, depersonalisation and personal accomplishment 2. The Emotional Exhaustion subscale means feelings of being emotionally overextended and exhausted by one's work with people (loss of enthusiasm for work); depersonalisation means an unfeeling and impersonal response towards patients care (reduced empathy and increased cynicism); and personal accomplishment means feelings of competence and successful achievement (a sense that one's work is meaningful).…”

“…A large body of literature outlines the potential adverse outcomes of burnout for staff, which include illness and absenteeism, staff conflict, distrust of management, poor coping and substance abuse 2 7 8 9 11 13–18. Clinical consequences of burnout include medical errors and adverse events, poor prescribing habits, low patient satisfaction and low adherence to physician recommendations 19.…”

Stress factors vs. job satisfaction among nursing staff in the Pomeranian Province (Poland) and the Vilnius Region (Lithuania)

“…Stress is inherent to the work of medical staff at healthcare establishments [1]. According to many researchers, the work of nursing staff is characterized by a particularly high level of occupational stress [2].…”

The psychological health and well-being of emergency medicine consultants in the UK

“…In the UK, emergency physicians, but not other ED staff, have been found to be at increased risk of psychological distress 8. A postal survey of ED consultants found that 44.4% (154) had GHQ-12 (General Health Questionnaire-12) scores over the threshold for psychological distress, compared with 17.8% found within the general population and 21–27% for consultants in other specialties 9–11.…”