Demographic and Occupational Factors Affecting Fatigue and Social Support among Nurses in the Emergency Department: A Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

The aim of the present study is the investigation of the levels of fatigue and social support in nursing staff working in the Emergency Department of General Hospitals in the broader area of Athens. Moreover, the impact of demographic and occupational factors on fatigue and social support was examined. This is a quantitative cross-sectional study including 62 nurses who completed the Fatigue Assessment Scale (FAS) and the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS). Based on the results, males presented higher score of mental fatigue compared to females (p=0,015) while nurses with master or PhD degree appeared to have more support from their family in comparison to those with lower educational level (p=0,040). Further, the results demonstrated a statistically significant and negative correlation between working hours per week and the perceived social support from friends (r= -0,302, p=0,021) as well as the total social support (r= -0,296, p=0,024). The findings show that there is a strong effect of demographic and occupational factors on fatigue and social support among nurses.