Identifying the risk features for occupational stress in medical workers: a cross-sectional study

Abstract

Objective Occupational stress is considered a worldwide epidemic experienced by a large proportion of the working population. The identification of characteristics that place people at high risk for occupational stress is the basis of managing and intervening in this condition. In this study, we aimed to identify and validate the risk features for occupational stress among medical workers using a risk model and nomogram. Methods This cross-sectional study included 1988 eligible participants from Henan Province in China. Occupational stress and worker-occupation fit were measured with the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scales (DASS-21) and Worker-Occupation Fit Inventory (WOFI). The identification of risk features was achieved through constructing multiple logistic regression model, and the risk features were used to develop the risk model and nomogram. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves and calibration plots were generated to assess the effectiveness and calibration of the risk model. Results Among 1988 participants in our study, there were 42.5% (845/1988) medical workers experienced occupational stress. The risk features for occupational stress included poor work-occupation fit (WOF score < 25, expected risk: 77.3%), nurse population (expected risk: 63.1%), male sex (expected risk: 67.2%), work experience duration of 11–19 years (expected risk: 54.5%), experience of a traumatic event (expected risk: 65.3%) and the lack of a regular exercise habit (expected risk: 60.2%). For medical workers who have these risk features, the expected risk probability of occupational stress would be 90.2%. Conclusion The current data can be used to identify medical workers at risk of developing occupational stress. Identifying risk features for occupational stress and the work-occupation fit can support hierarchical stress management in hospitals. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s00420-021-01762-3.

The Status of Occupational Stress and Its Influence on the Health of Medical Staff in Lanzhou, China

“…In addition, relevant studies show that with an increase in working years, the level of occupational stress increases, the degree of job burnout also increases [ 47 ], and the health status of medical staff is worse than that of medical staff with short working years [ 48 ]. However, our study showed that the medical staff with high occupational stress had a high proportion of 10–20 working years and had lower scores on the physical, psychological, and social health subscales compared with other groups, which was consistent with relevant research results [ 49 , 50 ]. The reason for this may be the length of the service period of the older medical staff, most as the backbone of our department staff, department in the hospital for the post rank are relatively high, bear the most basic medical department work tasks, in addition to treating patients in a day and doing a good job administrative department [ 41 , 46 ], which has a high degree of occupational stress, thus seriously affecting the medical staff’s physical, psychological, and social health.…”

The Prevalence and Correlated Factors of Occupational Stress, Cumulative Fatigue, and Musculoskeletal Disorders among Information Technology Workers: A Cross-Sectional Study in Chongqing, China

“…This indicator is significantly higher than in other industries [ 22 , 23 , 24 ], which means occupational stress of the IT worker needs more social attention. The study found that current working years from 1 to 10 and an increase in overtime working hours per day were associated with an increased risk of experiencing occupational stress, which was in line with the study of Siu and Sun et al [ 25 , 26 ]. Working over 60 h per week also causes a higher risk of experiencing occupational stress compared to those who work less than 40 h a week.…”

Association between occupational stress and mental health of nurses during the COVID‐19 pandemic: A cross‐sectional research

“…There were a considerable number of nurses who experienced poor mental health. Numerous evidences have shown that during the COVID‐19 pandemic, most healthcare workers suffered from high ERI, depression and anxiety (Kang et al, 2020 ; Rossi et al, 2020 ; Sun et al, 2022 ; Zhang et al, 2021 ). Occupational stress is a worldwide epidemic experienced by a large proportion of the working population.…”

“…Occupational stress is a worldwide epidemic experienced by a large proportion of the working population. In a multi‐centre cross‐sectional study that recruited 1988 medical workers, 42.5% (845/1988) of medical workers experienced occupational stress; the risk features for occupational stress included the nurse population (Sun et al, 2022 ). During the COVID‐19 pandemic, healthcare workers in Italy have been exposed to unprecedented pressure and traumatic events.…”