Measuring occupational stress in emergency departments

Ellyse McCormick; Susan Devine; Julia Crilly; Paula Brough; Jaimi Greenslade

doi:10.1111/1742-6723.14101

Measuring occupational stress in emergency departments

Emerg Med Australas. 2023 Apr;35(2):234-241. doi: 10.1111/1742-6723.14101. Epub 2022 Oct 25.

Authors

Ellyse McCormick^{1

2}, Susan Devine², Julia Crilly^{3

4}, Paula Brough⁵, Jaimi Greenslade^{1

6}

Affiliations

¹ Emergency and Trauma Centre, Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
² College of Public Health, Medical and Veterinary Sciences, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia.
³ Department of Emergency Medicine, Gold Coast Health, Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia.
⁴ School of Nursing and Midwifery and Menzies Health Institute Queensland, Griffith University, Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia.
⁵ Centre for Work, Organisation and Wellbeing, Griffith University, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
⁶ Australian Centre for Health Services Innovation, School of Public Health and Social Work, Centre for Healthcare Transformation, Faculty of Health, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.

PMID: 36283708
DOI: 10.1111/1742-6723.14101

Abstract

Objective: EDs are highly demanding workplaces generating considerable potential for occupational stress experiences. Previous research has been limited by a focus on specific aspects of the working environment and studies focussing on a range of variables are needed. The aim of the present study was to describe the perceptions of occupational stress and coping strategies of ED nurses and doctors and the differences between these two groups.

Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted at a public metropolitan hospital ED in Queensland, Australia. All ED nurses and doctors were invited to participate in an electronic survey containing 13 survey measures and one qualitative question assessing occupational stress and coping experiences. Descriptive statistics were employed to report stressors. Responses to open-ended questions were thematically analysed.

Results: Overall, 104 nurses and 35 doctors responded (55.6% response rate). Nurses reported higher levels of both stress and burnout than doctors. They also reported lower work satisfaction, work engagement, and leadership support than doctors. Compared with doctors, nurses reported significantly higher stress from heavy workload/poor skill mix, high acuity patients, environmental concerns, and inability to provide optimal care. Thematic analysis identified high workload and limited leadership and management support as factors contributing to stress. Coping mechanisms, such as building personal resilience, were most frequently reported.

Conclusions: The present study found organisational stressors adversely impact the well-being of ED nurses and doctors. Organisational-focused interventions including leadership development, strategic recruitment, adequate staffing and resources may mitigate occupational stress and complement individual coping strategies. Expanding this research to understand broader perspectives and especially the impact of COVID-19 upon ED workers is recommended.

Keywords: coping behaviour; emergency departments; leadership; occupational stress; work engagement.

MeSH terms

Adaptation, Psychological
Burnout, Professional* / epidemiology
COVID-19* / epidemiology
Cross-Sectional Studies
Emergency Service, Hospital
Humans
Occupational Stress* / epidemiology
Surveys and Questionnaires

Grants and funding

RBWH-EOI-2021-104/Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital Foundation