Patterns of Work-Related Stress and Their Predictors Among Emergency Department Nurses and Emergency Medical Services Staff in a Time of Crisis: A Latent Profile Analysis

Abstract

Purpose Many studies have shown that a disease outbreak causes high stress among healthcare workers. However, there is a scarcity of data on various patterns of work-related stress during such a critical situation in this group. The main purpose of the study was to identify latent profiles of healthcare workers with similar combinations of levels of various work-related stressors during the COVID-19 pandemic and to examine their predictors. Methods A paper-and-pencil survey was conducted among 297 ED nurses and 219 EMS staff members working in educational and medical centers in Ardabil province, Iran. Data were collected using the Health and Safety Executive Management Standards Indicator Tool for measuring work-related stress. Latent profile analysis (LPA) was used to analyze the data. Results Five work-related stress profiles were identified: “high stress with a good understanding of one’s job role” (11.1%), “moderate stress” (41.9%), “relatively high stress with average demands and a very low understanding of one’s job role” (23.8%), “low stress” (18.0%), and “generally low stress but with very high job demands and relational conflicts” (5.2%). Age, marital status, service location, workplace, and the number of overtime hours significantly predicted profile membership. Conclusion The results of the study suggest the importance of incorporating various sources of stress and using LPA to analyze them when studying the work-related stress of healthcare workers during disease outbreaks. A deeper and more complex understanding of particular patterns of work-related stressors in ED nurses and EMS staff may help prevent the specific area of work-related problems. Moreover, identifying sociodemographic and work-related predictors of profile membership may be useful for preparing interventions better suited to healthcare workers’ needs.

The influence of supportive work environment on work‐related stress and conflict management style among emergency care nurses: A descriptive correlational study

“…Work‐related stress can have a significant impact on the relationship between a supportive work environment and conflict management style among emergency nurses. When nurses experience high levels of stress due to the demands and pressures of their job, they may be less likely to utilize effective conflict management strategies (Charzyńska et al., 2023). The stress may make them more prone to adopting an avoidant or aggressive conflict management style, which can further escalate conflicts and strain relationships within the workplace.…”