Work Stress in NHS Employees: A Mixed-Methods Study.

Jermaine M Ravalier,Andrew Mcvicar,Charlotte Boichat

doi:10.3390/ijerph17186464

Abstract

The United Kingdom’s National Health Service (NHS) has a higher-than-average level of stress-related sickness absence of all job sectors in the country. It is important that this is addressed as work stress is damaging to employees and the organisation, and subsequently impacts patient care. The aim of this study was to gain an in-depth understanding of working conditions and wellbeing in NHS employees from three employing NHS Trusts through a mixed-methods investigation. First, a cross-sectional organisational survey was completed by 1644 respondents. Questions examined working conditions, stress, psychological wellbeing, job satisfaction, and presenteeism. This was followed by 33 individual semistructured interviews with NHS staff from a variety of clinical and nonclinical roles. Quantitative findings revealed that working conditions were generally positive, although most staff groups had high levels of workload. Regression outcomes demonstrated that a number of working conditions influenced mental wellbeing and stress. Three themes were generated from thematic analysis of the interview data: wellbeing at work, relationships, and communication. These highlight areas which may be contributing to workplace stress. Suggestions are made for practical changes which could improve areas of difficulty. Such changes could improve staff wellbeing and job satisfaction and reduce sickness absence.

Highlights

The United Kingdom’s (UK) National Health Service (NHS) is the single biggest employer of over1.5 million individuals in the country and is funded primarily by taxes
Three overarching themes from the interviews were identified from the 33 semistructured interviews undertaken. These were wellbeing at work, relationships, and communication
Mental health at work: Participants spoke of mental health problems which resulted in being absent from work for a period, with this being attributed to work stress

Summary

Introduction

The United Kingdom’s (UK) National Health Service (NHS) is the single biggest employer of over1.5 million individuals in the country and is funded primarily by taxes. Employing NHS Trusts are largely running a financial deficit due to the UK government’s austerity agenda of recent years, which has meant lower levels of NHS funding [1], with these financial deficits subsequently affecting staff and being a distinct barrier toward implementing wellbeing initiatives for NHS staff [2], and care provided to patients [3]. 40% of all staff sickness absence in the NHS is due to work stress [5] and costs the NHS up to £400 million per year [6] This project presents the outcomes of a mixed-methods study looking at stress in the NHS and strategies which can be implemented in order to improve staff experience

Objectives

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion