Investigating the relationship between workplace stressors and caring behaviours of nursing staff in inpatient wards: A cross-sectional study

Where is the limit for overtime? Impacts of overtime on employees' mental health and potential solutions: A qualitative study in China

Although Labor Law of the People's Republic of China stipulates the overtime system, overtime is still widespread in the IT industry. Through qualitative interviews, we explored the impact of overtime on employees' mental health and life. The current study identified four main themes, namely overtime reasons, outcomes of overtime, influential factors and solutions to overtime challenges. Besides work-related reasons and cultural influence, it was found that employees may work overtime due to personal reasons, such as capability and personal qualities; the most frequent impacts reported were fatigue, depression, stress and interference with life; three predominant influential factors were timing of overtime, control and rewards; and overtime conditions could be improved in practical and emotional ways. The study's findings highlight the importance of the design of flexible working time arrangements for avoiding fatigue and improving employees' work-life balance, enhancement of schedule arrangement for avoiding daily work interruption and last-minute tasks, and optimization of rewarding systems for avoiding complaints and facilitating voluntary overtime. Results suggest that mental health and work-life balance can be promoted by organizational initiatives focusing on minimizing excessive job demands, increasing psychosocial resources, supporting boundary management, and enhancing perceived flexibility.

Nurse admissions at a specialized mental health programme: A pre-Covid-19 retrospective review (2000-2019)

AIMS

Nursing is a stressful and emotionally demanding profession. To date, few mental health treatment interventions have been developed for them worldwide. This study aims to explore referral trends in nurses with mental disorders admitted to a pioneer specialized mental health programme in Europe from 2000 to 2019.

DESIGN

A retrospective observational study of 1297 medical e-records of nurses with mental health disorders admitted to the Galatea Care Programme in Barcelona was conducted.

METHODS

Three periods were analysed: 2000-2006, 2007-2012 and 2013-2019. Socio-demographic and clinical variables were compared. Diagnoses followed Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV-TR) criteria.

RESULTS

Gender and age at referral did not change over time. Self-referrals grew from 85.1% in the first period to 95.3% in the last period; inpatient admissions decreased from 24.1% to 18.2%, although this was not significant; nurses were less frequently on sick leave on admission over time (59.1% vs. 45.7%); they were more likely to have a temporary contract in the second period (9.5% vs. 4.8% and 4%) and prevalence of main diagnosis changed with a considerable decrease in affective and substance use disorders after 2006 and a progressive increase in adjustment disorders during the whole period.

CONCLUSION

Free, voluntary, highly confidential programmes for nurses with mental disorders may enhance voluntary and earlier help seeking. These findings can be considered when implementing specialized interventions for them in other settings. WHAT PROBLEM DID THE STUDY ADDRESS?: Nursing is a stressful and emotionally demanding profession. To date, few specialized mental health services have been developed for them worldwide. This study aims to explore referral trends in nurses with mental disorders admitted to a pioneer programme in Europe, the Galatea Care Programme in Barcelona, from 2000 to 2019. WHAT WERE THE MAIN FINDINGS?: The number of referrals to the programme grew especially after the first 7-year period. Admissions were more likely to be voluntary during the last period. Prevalence of substance use disorders at admission dropped steadily while prevalence of adjustment disorders progressively increased over the two decades. Nurses were also less likely to be on sick leave at admission. WHERE AND ON WHOM WILL THE RESEARCH HAVE IMPACT?: Free, voluntary, highly confidential programmes for nurses with mental disorders may enhance voluntary and earlier help seeking. These findings can be considered when implementing specialized interventions for them in other settings.