Self-reported environmental health risks of nurses working in hospital surgical units

Modifiable work stress factors and psychological health risk among nurses working within 13 countries

INTRODUCTION

Nurses are identified as having higher work stress and poor mental health risk among health care workforce globally. It remains unclear which modifiable stress factors pose the greatest risk for poor psychological health among nursing workforce and needed to inform targeted practice and policy change. To determine which occupation-related or personal stress factors precipitate higher risk for burnout, depression, anxiety, job satisfaction or intention to leave one's position among nurses globally.

DESIGN

A cross-sectional anonymous survey was administered via email using a snowball recruitment strategy.

METHODS

Academic researchers and clinical industry leaders across 3 global regions collaborated to generate an email listserv of professional nursing contacts for survey distribution. The survey included valid and reliable measures to scale stress factors (Work Stress Questionnaire), and screen for burnout (single item), depression (Patient Health Questionnaire-2), anxiety (Generalized Anxiety Disorder-2), resilience (Brief Resilience Scale) and intention to leave one's job (single item). We used logistic regression, first unadjusted and then adjusted for personal and professional characteristics, to determine associations between stress factors and psychological health risk.

RESULTS

The final sample consisted of responses from 2864 nurses working across 13 countries. Most respondents reported working as a clinical nurse in the Philippines (n = 2275), United States (n = 424) and Saudi Arabia (n = 104). One third of nursing respondents endorsed high burnout and intention to leave their job. Those reporting work conflict had significantly higher odds of burnout (odds ratio 3.18; 95% CI 2.22-4.54) and three times more likely to screen positive for depression (odds ratio 3.02; 95% CI 1.36-6.72) and anxiety (odds ratio 2.92; 95% CI 1.57-5.43). Those endorsing difficulty sleeping were 15 times more likely to screen positive for depression (odds ratio 15.63; 95% CI 2.09-117.06). Lack of social support was significantly associated to higher risk for burnout, job dissatisfaction, depression, anxiety, and intention to leave one's position.

CONCLUSIONS

Nurses remain at risk for burnout and poor psychological health stemming from work stress. Factors such as clear workplace goals and assignments, increased engagement, good sleep health and social support may serve as protective factors against suboptimal psychological health, and in-turn poor workforce retention.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE

Nurses reporting conflict in the workplace are three times more likely to screen positive for burnout, depression, and anxiety. Nurses reporting difficulty sleeping are 15 times more likely to screen positive for depression. Several modifiable factors can be targeted to reduce poor psychological health and high workforce turnover among nurses across countries.

Prevalence of dyslipidaemia within Polish nurses. Cross-sectional study - single and multiple linear regression models and ROC analysis

BACKGROUND

Maintaining good health is vital not only for own well-being, but also to ensure high-quality patient care. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of dyslipidaemia and to determine the factors responsible for the development of this disorder among Polish nurses. Lipid profile disorders are the most prevalent and challenging risk factors for the development of cardiovascular disease. Nurses have significant potential and play a crucial role in providing care and treatment services.

METHODS

This cross-sectional study involved nurses and included measurements of body weight composition (Tanita MC-980), body mass index, waist circumference, blood pressure (Welch Allyn 4200B), lipid profile, and fasting blood glucose (CardioChek PA).

RESULTS

The results revealed that more than half of the nurses (60.09%) were overweight or obese, with 57.28% exhibiting elevated blood pressure, 32.25% having fasting glucose levels, and 69.14% experiencing dyslipidaemia. Multiple model evaluation using ROC curves demonstrated that multiple models accurately predicted hypercholesterolemia (AUC = 0.715), elevated LDL (AUC = 0.727), and elevated TC (AUC = 0.723) among Polish nurses.

CONCLUSION

Comprehensive education programmes should be implemented that include the latest advances in cardiovascular disease prevention. Regular check-ups, as well as the promotion and availability of healthy food in hospital canteens, are essential.

Associations of anxiety and fatigue with hazardous occupational conditions of Korean nurses in early pregnancy: A cross-sectional study

AIM

To identify occupational conditions associated with anxiety and fatigue among Korean nurses in early pregnancy.

BACKGROUND

Pregnant nurses, like non-pregnant hospital nurses, are exposed to dangerous and stressful work environments, which can affect fatigue and anxiety.

DESIGN AND METHODS

This cross-sectional study enrolled 1490 nurses who participated in the early pregnancy module in the Korea Nurses' Health Study between 2014 and 2020. Hierarchical linear regression analyses were employed to identify the factors associated with anxiety and fatigue among nurses in early pregnancy.

RESULTS

One-fifth of participants were working night shifts, and more than two-thirds were working overtime. When using antineoplastic drugs and disinfectants, the rate of use of protective equipment varied depending on the size of the hospital. Working overtime and lifting heavy objects were associated with increased anxiety and fatigue among nurses.

CONCLUSION

Overtime work was associated with both anxiety and fatigue among pregnant nurses. Pregnant hospital nurses were exposed to both night shift and overtime work. Therefore, hospital managers should improve hazardous working environments to protect the health of nurses in early pregnancy and their fetuses.

FACTORS AFFECTING NURSES' ATTITUDES TOWARDS RISKS IN THE WORK ENVIRONMENT: A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY

AIM

This study aimed to examine the factors affecting nurses' attitudes towards risks in the work environment.

BACKGROUND

Nurses' attitudes towards work environment-associated risks affect both risk management and employee health.

METHODS

This descriptive study was conducted with 338 nurses working in a public hospital, university hospital, and private hospital. Data were collected using the Personal Information Form and the Nurses' Attitudes Towards Work Environment Risks Scale.

RESULTS

Nurses were found to have a positive attitude towards risk in the work environment. Regression analysis showed that nurses' attitudes towards risk was affected by institution, gender, access to unit-specific risk management training, past experiences of sharp penetrating tool injuries, acceptance of risks due to the belief that risks are unavoidable, exposure to violence from colleagues, exposure to biological hazards, and neglect to take risk precautions.

CONCLUSIONS

This study's results show that nurses' attitudes towards risk in the work environment is affected by both individual and organizational factors.

IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING MANAGEMENT

This study's results can help institutions and nurse managers understand the factors affecting nurses' attitudes towards work-related risks, thereby allowing them to determine the primary strategies that may be used to address these factors.

Prevalence of sick building syndrome in hospital staff and its relationship with indoor environmental quality

The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of sick building syndrome (SBS), and its relationship with indoor environmental quality in hospital settings. This cross-sectional study was carried out on 300 hospital staff in Sivas. MM 040 NA Hospital questionnaire was applied. In the hospital indoor environments, air quality (carbon monoxide (CO), carbon dioxide (CO₂), oxygen (O₂), methane (CH₄), hydrogen sulfide (H₂S), nitrogen oxides (NO_x)), lighting, noise, respirable dust and thermal comfort measurements were made. The prevalence of SBS was determined as 64.7-74.1% in the hospitals. It was found that the risk of SBS was 4.31 times higher for those who complained about variable room temperature and 3.11 times higher for those who complained about noise, and decreased 1.01 times with the increase in lighting level. In order to minimize the risk of SBS, it is thought that all healthcare administrators should be informed about SBS.

Focus on Polish nurses' health condition: a cross-sectional study

Background

The nursing profession carries with it many negative factors and a high risk of developing chronic diseases, including overweight and obesity. According to statistics, the health condition of this professional group is much worse than that of the average population of the same age. As the largest and most trusted professional group in the world, nurses are critical to the health of any nation. The aim of the study was to assess the Polish nurse's health condition based on real measurements of parameters important for the occurrence of metabolic diseases.

Methods

This is the cross-sectional, conducted among two age groups of Polish nurses (<50 years and ≥50 years). Study included the measurements with DXA, the assessment of glucose concentration and lipid profile, the measurement of blood pressure and socio-demographic data of the surveyed nurses.

Results

The majority of respondents above 50 years old were nurses with elevated total cholesterol (79.3%), elevated LDL cholesterol (72.8%), 42.4% of studied nurses had hypertension.

Conclusion

Individual, local and national measures to prevent and support the health of this professional group are needed.

Work environment-related factors and nurses' health outcomes: a cross-sectional study in Lebanese hospitals

Background

Worldwide, studies show a relationship between nurses’ health and some work environment factors; however, data on nurses’ health and self-perceived workload and nursing task allocation are lacking, particularly for Lebanese nurses. We assessed the relationship of several work environment factors: overall workload and specific temporal, physical, mental, effort, frustration, and performance demands (NASA Task Load Index), staffing resources and adequacy and leadership (Practice Environment Scale of Nursing Work Index), teamwork climate (Safety Attitudes Questionnaire), and nursing task allocation (Basel Extent of Rationing of Nursing Care)) with self-reported musculoskeletal, cardiovascular, skin, and mental health diseases (Work Ability Index) and emotional exhaustion (Maslach Burnout Inventory) among Lebanese nurses.

Methods

A cross-sectional self-report survey was distributed to all 289 registered nurses (RNs) in the medical, surgical, and pediatric units in two Lebanese university-affiliated hospitals; 170 RNs had complete data. Adjusted multivariable logistic regression models were used to estimate the association between work environment factors and health outcomes.

Results

The most prevalent outcomes were musculoskeletal disease (69%), emotional exhaustion (59%), and mental health problems (56%); 70% of RNs had ≥2 and 35.29% had ≥4 co-occurring health problems. Musculoskeletal disease was associated with higher overall (OR = 1.36 (95%CI = 1.03, 1.80)), temporal (OR = 1.30 (95%CI = 1.09, 1.55)), and physical demands (OR = 1.20 (95%CI = 1.03, 1.49)), higher task allocation to RNs (OR = 1.11 (95%CI = 1.01, 1.23)) and lower teamwork climate (OR = 0.60 (95%CI = 0.36, 0.98). Higher odds of mental/emotional problems were associated with higher overall, temporal, frustration, and effort demands, and lower teamwork climate, performance satisfaction, and resources adequacy (increased odds ranging from 18 to 88%). Work environment indicators were associated with higher co-occurrence of health problems.

Conclusions

Results show elevated health burden and co-morbidity among Lebanese RNs and highlight the value of comprehensive approaches that can simultaneously improve several work environment factors (namely self-perceived workload, teamwork,, resources, and nursing task allocation) to reduce this burden.

Association between Sick Building Syndrome and Indoor Environmental Quality in Slovenian Hospitals: A Cross-Sectional Study

Increased exposure times to various health risk factors and the vulnerability of building users might result in significantly higher prevalence rates of sick building syndrome (SBS) in a hospital setting compared to other indoor environments. The purpose of our study was to assess the association between SBS symptoms and measured environmental parameters at a Slovenian general hospital. A combination of a self-assessment study and field measurements was conducted in order to estimate the health risk factors for SBS symptoms among the users of a Slovenian general hospital. The Chi-square test was used to analyse the association between observed health and environmental parameters. The response rate was 67.5%. A total of 12.0% of healthcare workers at hospital wards reported at least six SBS symptoms, 19.0% reported 2-3 SBS symptoms. At the observed hospital wards, the most deviations were recorded for the level of lighting (83.3%), noise level (73.6%), and room temperature (55.3%). A statistically significant association was found between indoor environmental quality and skin-related SBS symptoms (χ² = 0.009; p = 0.006). This information will be of great value in defining an integral strategy of environmental health activities aimed at healthier indoor environmental quality in hospitals.