Job Stress Level and Its Effects among Nurses Working In Critical Care Areas during Hajj Season in King Abdullah Medical City, A Cross Sectional Study

Abstract

Background and rationale: Job stress has become a major problem in recent period particularly in nursing profession. Work stress is the second prevailing problem related to health. The background of critical care areas is extremely hectic and stressful, that result from frequent emergencies, extraordinary high-tech complexity, and absorption of severely wounded patients subject to abrupt alterations in their health condition. Stress in the hajj season seems to be at its peak because nurses have consecutive 15 shifts and handling a high numbers of multicultural and multilingual patients. Objective of the study: To find out the level of job related stress and its related consequences among nurses working in the critical care areas of King Abdullah Medical City during hajj season. Methods: We used a questionnaire of 35 questions with likert scale as 1= Never, 2 = occasionally, 3 = frequently, 4 = most often and 5 = always. In addition, we targeted all the nurses working in critical care area during hajj time of 2017. Results: From 100 (n=100) participants 39% responded as having mild stress, 47% participants having moderate stress and 14% nurses facing severe degree of stress. the majority 51% of this sample nurses showed moderate to severe degree of job satisfaction and a small percentage 2% were mildly satisfied with their job. Moreover, almost half participants 49% have mild mental and physical health problems due to stress while 22% to 29% respondents facing moderate to severe degree of health problems. Furthermore, 40% of the staff experienced a mild degree of being emotionally drained at work, while 33% of them had severe degree and 27% experienced a moderate degree. Additionally, 55% of the nurses responded that they are not participating in job related decisions. More than half of nurses were apathetic towards their colleagues and a maximum number of participant have feeling of incompetence. The results of an open-ended question for techniques to cope with the stress level, however, respondents can choose more than one option. Having tea, coffee or any other beverages were at the maximum numbers followed by deep breathing. Exercise, yoga or meditation was at minimum number as only 20% and 27% musical therapy. Gender and overall physical and mental health found to be the independent risk factors for stress in the multi-regression analysis. Conclusion: Overall job stress level is moderate among nurses in all critical care areas in our hospital. It is associated with a variety of personal and institutional factors and it needs further studies to detect its effects on patients care and outcome.

Stress level and associated factors among nurses working in the critical care unit and emergency rooms at comprehensive specialized hospitals in Southern Ethiopia, 2023: explanatory sequential mixed-method study

“…However, our finding was lower than the study conducted in Pakistan [ 14 ] and United Arab [ 16 ]. This difference might be due to the difference in sociodemographic characteristics, and study time gaps and as well there might be a stronger sense of community and support among nurses and other healthcare professionals in our study area, providing a network of emotional and professional support that mitigates stress levels.…”

“…A study in Saudi Arabia showed 11.7% low stress, 87.8% moderate stress, and 1.3% high stress [ 1 ]. Further, a study in the United Arab Emirates revealed 14% low stress, 47% moderate stress, and 39% high stress levels among nurses [ 16 ].…”