Sense of Coherence vs. Mental Load in Nurses Working at a Chemotherapy Ward.

Abstract

The aim of this study was to analyze the relationship between the sense of coherence and the level of mental load among nurses working at a chemotherapy ward. The study, conducted in 2013, included 164 nurses working at inpatient chemotherapy wards in Krakow, Poznan, Kielce, and Gliwice (Poland). The mean age of the study participants was 43.07±7.99 years. The study was based on a diagnostic survey with Antonovsky's Sense of Coherence Scale (SOC-29) and Meister questionnaire. The levels of Mental Load, Monotony and Unspecific Load, correlated inversely with the levels of Coherence, Manageability, Meaningfulness, and Comprehensibility. Longer work experience was associated with lower levels of Coherence, Manageability and Comprehensibility and higher levels of Mental Load, Overload and Monotony. Age of nurses correlated inversely with the Manageability level. Heavy mental and physical workload turned out to be the main factor causing dissatisfaction of the study participants. Longer work experience and lower levels of Coherence are associated with higher risk for mental overload.