Work-Related Stress among Healthcare Providers at Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU): A Multicentric Collaborative...

Area of Science:

• Occupational Health
• Healthcare Management
• Psychology

Background:

• Work-related stress in healthcare professionals can compromise patient care quality.
• Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICUs) are particularly high-stress environments.
• Understanding and mitigating this stress is crucial for effective healthcare delivery.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the prevalence of work stress and psychological distress among NICU healthcare providers.
• To identify common occupational stressors within the NICU setting.
• To explore factors associated with increased risk of occupational stress in NICU staff.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional study was conducted with 171 healthcare providers in eight NICUs in Karnataka State.
• Work stress was assessed using the Tool to Assess and Classify Work-Related Stress (TAWS-16).
• Psychological distress was measured using the Kessler Psychological Distress (K10) scale.

Main Results:

• A significant prevalence of work stress (32.7%) and psychological distress (38.6%) was observed.
• Key stressors included meeting deadlines, performing multiple roles, long work hours, and unsatisfactory pay.
• Higher risks for occupational stress were linked to NICU mortality and trainee status.

Conclusions:

• Nearly one-third of NICU healthcare professionals experience workplace stress and psychological distress.
• Interventions should focus on reducing NICU mortality rates.
• Enhanced organizational support for trainee staff is essential to mitigate occupational stress.