1Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Sree Balaji Medical College and Hospital, Chennai, India
Email: drvishalarao@gmail.com
2Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Sree Balaji Medical College and Hospital, Chennai, India
Email: drsindhurss@gmail.com
3Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Sree Balaji Medical College and Hospital, Chennai, India
Email: ishwaryasiva@gmail.com
4Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Sree Balaji Medical College and Hospital, Chennai, India
Email: drminthamisharon@gmail.com
Corresponding Author: Dr Vishala Rao
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Sree Balaji Medical College and Hospital, Chromepet, Chennai - 600044, India
Email: drvishalarao@gmail.com
Background: Stress arising from the workplace is a worry and influences the psychological wellbeing and effectiveness of HCWs. Given that HC professionals work under pressure and constrained supply of resources, knowing more about occupational stress is relevant to enhancing workplace quality and productivity. This study sought to establish the degree of occupational stress experienced by HCWs and determine the relationship between degree of stress and socio-demographic characteristics of HCWs in selected tertiary healthcare facility.
Methodology: A cross sectional survey for three months, involved 235 HCWs among which there were doctors and nurses. Volunteer participation was the inclusion criteria and those with histories of mental illness were excluded from the study. The Occupational Stress Inventory, OSI was employed measure stress levels and socio demographic information was gathered using a data collection form. Descriptive and inferential tests were processed by computer analysis using SPSS version 21. Correlations between occupational stress and the Domain factors were done with the use of Coefficient of correlation and Chi-square test at alpha = 0.05.
Results: This study received 235 participants of HWC in which 71.5% were female, 28.5% male, employees where 54.9% nurses and 45.1% were doctors. Whereas 78.7% participants were under rotational shifts, 65.5% of the participants reported working more than 48 hours in a week. Specific stress factors identified were time management (67.2%), workload (68.9%) and lack of communication with immediate bosses (74%). Analyses of variance revealed that there were highly significant associations between stress and domain variables p < 0.05.
Conclusion: This study supports prior research by providing an evidence of occupational stress amongst HCWs and concluding that this stress is significantly linked to some socio-demographic variables. Stakeholder education and time East management programs/organizational support is crucial to improving healthcare workers' health and efficiency.
Keywords: Occupational stress, healthcare workers, cross-sectional study, socio-demographic factors, stress management.
How to cite this article: Rao V, Sindhu RSS, Ishwarya S, Sharon PM. Stress on the Frontlines: A Comprehensive Study of Occupational Stress Among Healthcare Workers in a Tertiary Care Hospital. Int J Drug Deliv Technol. 2026;16(7s): 686-693; DOI: 10.25258/ijddt.16.7s.73
Source of support: None
Conflict of interest: None