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conferenceseries
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Volume 20, Issue 7 (Suppl)
J Psychiatry
ISSN: 2378-5756 JOP, an open access journal
Psychiatry and Mental Health 2017
November 20-21, 2017
November 20-21, 2017 Melbourne, Australia
28
th
International Conference on
Psychiatry and Mental Health
Prevalence and correlates of work stress among nurses working in psychiatric inward facilities, in
Colombo district, Sri Lanka
Jeewaranga Gunasekera and IK Suraweera
Ministry of Health, Sri Lanka
W
ork stress among nurses in psychiatric care is considered an important occupational health problemdue to the nature of the
services provided. However, studies on work stress in this study group are scarce in Sri Lanka. An understanding of such
factors could greatly help in designing policies related to mental health and occupational health. This descriptive cross-sectional
study was conducted among nurses working in the three in-ward psychiatric facilities in capital Colombo district namely,
National Institute of Mental Health, National Hospital of Sri Lanka and Colombo South Teaching Hospital. The entire population
(N=345) was given a pre-tested self-administered questionnaire composed of two parts, validated job content questionnaire
and questionnaire on correlates. Prevalence of work stress was measured using two indices as described by Karasek in the
dynamic job strain model, namely-High Job Strain (HJS) and Iso-Strain (IS). The response rate was 89.5% (N=309). Prevalence
of HJS and IS was 37.2% and 21.4%, respectively. Factors significantly associated with HJS were being single (OR=1.84, 95%
CI=1.15-2.95), working more than 48 hours weekly (OR=1.71,95% CI=1.05-2.78), violence by patients (OR=3.45, 95% CI=1.81-
6.57), verbal abuse by patients (OR=3.11, 95% CI=1.80-5.39), mental health concerns (OR=2.68,95%CI=1.595-4.40), stigma
(OR=2.21,95%CI=1.24-3.94), lack of assistance at work (OR=4.56, 95% CI=1.68-12.27), difficulty in obtaining leave (OR=2.98,
95% CI=1.48-6.00), inadequate welfare facilities (OR=1.62, 95% CI=1.01-2.59) and poor work recognition (OR=2.89, 95%
CI=1.68-4.96). The prevalence of HJS was significant among nurses. It was comparatively higher than the prevalence values
obtained among other occupations. More than 10 factors were identified as increasing the risk of high job strain where Iso-strain
was associated with five factors. Some factors that are associated with HJS were not associated with IS indicating that positive
social support could counter the negative impacts of work stress. Administrative programs to prevent and reduce work stress
among nurses are to be studied in detail.
janjeewa@gmail.comJ Psychiatry 2017, 20:7 (Suppl)
DOI: 10.4172/2378-5756-C1-030