PSYCHOSOCIAL FACTORS AT WORK TRIGGERING GASTROINTESTINAL DISORDERS IN NURSES EMPLOYED BY SUPPORTIVE TREATMENT AND NURSING UNITS IN VILNIUS

Abstract

Key words: nurses, supportive treatment and nursing units, psychosocial factors at work, gastrointestinal disorders. Aim of the work. To assess the impact of psychosocial risk factors at work on gastrointestinal disorders of nurses working in supportive treatment and nursing units in Vilnius. Materials and methods. A cross-sectional study using an anonymous questionnaire was performed. 147 nurses aged 44.9 ± 10.1, employed by supportive treatment and nursing units in Vilnius filled out the questionnaires with questions concerning socio-demographic, psychosocial factors at work and gastrointestinal disorders. The odds ratios and 95 % confidence intervals were calculated. Results. The most common psychosocial risk factor which affected nurses was psychological (64 %) and psychological (32.6 %) violence at work. The respondents were dissatisfied with limited career opportunities (53 %) and salary (43.5 %). 51.1 % of nurses suffered from physical and mental strain at work. Other psychosocial risk factors which impacted nurses were a lack of support from colleagues and superiors, unfair distribution of work, inability to control the pace of work, rush, difficult periods and the risk of injury. The likelihood to feel heartburn for nurses unable to control the pace of work was 5 times higher and they were 3.8 times more likely to have regurgitation. A lack of support from a superior increased the likelihood of nausea by 8.5 times, a early satiation – 14.4 times, a postprandial fullness – 5 times. A lack of support from colleagues increased the probability to feel epigastric burning by 7.2 times, to develop chronic gastritis – by 7 times – to suffer from gastric or duodenal ulcer – by 15.3 times. The accidental damage of equipment or performance outcomes increased the probability to develop gastric or duodenal ulcer by 11.4 times. Ignoring the nurses’ opinion on duties increased the chances to develop functional dyspepsia by 4.7 times. Conclusions. Psychosocial risk factors at work experienced by nurses significantly increase the risk of the symptoms of gastrointestinal disorders. The likelihood of the occurrence of the symptoms of functional dyspepsia was largely increased by the factors related to difficulties at work and bad relationship with superiors. The symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux are associated with the intensity and complexity of the performance, the responsibility for its outcomes. A lack of support from colleagues and responsibility for the performance outcomes increase the risk of the occurrence of chronic gastritis as well as gastric and duodenal ulcer.