High Levels Of Work-related Stress Research Articles

A Web-Based and Mobile Intervention Program Using a Spaced Education Approach for Workplace Mental Health Literacy: Cluster Randomized Controlled Trial.

Workplace mental health is an important global health concern. This unblinded, phase-III, wait-listed cluster randomized controlled trial aimed to examine the effectiveness of a mobile health (mHealth) psychoeducation program using a spaced education approach on mental health literacy (MHL) in the workplace. The main interest of this paper was the immediate and 3-month medium-term effect of the program on the MHL of workers. The purposely built mHealth platform was also evaluated as a health-related app. The mHealth platform was designed using the principle of spaced education as a psychoeducation intervention program, with various modules of web-based and mobile materials presented to the participant in a progressive manner. Short quizzes at the end of each module ensured adequate learning, and successful completion qualified the learner to progress to the next level. The trial recruited 456 employees of specific industries with high levels of work-related stress. Participants who were nested in different offices or units were allocated into the intervention and wait-listed control groups using a block randomization process, with the office or unit as the cluster. A separate sample of 70 individual raters were used for the evaluation of the mHealth platform. The Australian National MHL and Stigma Survey and the Mobile Apps Rating Scale were completed through a web-based self-reported survey to assess MHL and evaluate the app. The trial and follow-up data were analyzed by a generalized linear latent and mixed model with adjustments for the clustering effect of work sites and repeated measures. Of the 456 participants in the trial, 236 (51.8%) responded to the follow-up survey. Most MHL outcomes obtained significant results immediately after the intervention and across time. After adjusting for the clustering effect, the postintervention weighted mean scores were significantly higher in the intervention group than the control group for correct recognition of a mental health problem, help seeking, and stigmatization by 0.2 (SE 0.1; P=.003), 0.9 (SE 0.2; P<.001), and 1.8 (SE 0.4; P<.001), respectively. After adjusting for the clustering effect, significant differences across time were found in help-seeking intention (P=.01), stigmatization (P<.001), and social distancing (P<.001). The evaluation of the mHealth program resulted in average scores of the 4 major domains ranging from 3.8 to 4.2, with engagement having the lowest score. The mHealth psychoeducation intervention program using this platform had immediate and 3-month medium-term effects of retaining and improving MHL. The platform was evaluated to have satisfactory performance in terms of functionality, aesthetics, information content, and utility in enhancing MHL. It is anticipated that ongoing development in digital health will provide great benefits in improving the mental health of the global population.

The importance of recovery and staffing on midwives’ emotional wellbeing: A UK national survey

BackgroundThere is currently a gap in the evidence on how working practices, such as the ability to take rest breaks, finish on time or intershift recovery influence outcomes. AimThe aim of this study was to explore the association of individual characteristics, work-related factors and working practices on emotional wellbeing outcomes of UK midwives. MethodsAn online cross-sectional survey collated data between September and October 2020. Outcomes explored were work-related stress, burnout, being pleased with their standard of care, job satisfaction and thoughts about leaving midwifery. Univariate analysis identified the explanatory variables to be investigated using multivariable logistic regression. FindingsA total of 2347 midwives from the four UK nations completed the survey. No standard approach in monitoring safe staffing or in-shift or intershift recovery was found. There were high levels of work-related stress, burnout and thoughts about leaving midwifery, and low levels of job satisfaction, with just half of midwives reporting they were satisfied with the standard of care they could provide. Multivariable regression revealed that working practices variables, generally related to impeded recovery or compounded by staffing issues, had a significant association with poorer emotional wellbeing outcomes. ConclusionThis research has demonstrated an association between impeded recovery, including a lack of formal methods to monitor this, and poorer emotional wellbeing outcomes, and that staffing levels are highly influential in determining outcomes. There is a need to re-evaluate current approaches to job design and how midwives are expected to work.

Investigating a multi-session virtual reality relaxation intervention for mental health staff: protocol for a feasibility and acceptability study

Purpose Clinical staff working in mental health services experience high levels of work-related stress, burnout and poor well-being. Increased levels of stress, burnout, depression and anxiety and poorer mental well-being among health-care workers are associated with more sick days, absenteeism, lower work satisfaction, increased staff turnover and reduced quality of patient care. Virtual reality (VR) relaxation is a technique whereby experiences of pleasant and calming environments are accessed through a head-mounted display to promote relaxation. The purpose of this paper is to describe the design of a study that assesses the feasibility and acceptability of implementing a multi-session VR relaxation intervention amongst mental health professionals, to improve their relaxation levels and mental well-being. Design/methodology/approach The study follows a pre–post-test design. Mental health staff will be recruited for five weeks of VR relaxation. The authors will measure the feasibility and acceptability of the VR relaxation intervention as primary outcomes, alongside secondary outcomes evaluating the benefits of VR relaxation for mental well-being. Findings The study aims to recruit 20–25 health-care professionals working in both inpatient and specialist community mental health settings. Originality/value Research indicates the potential of VR relaxation as a low-intensity intervention to promote relaxation and reduce stress in the workplace. If VR relaxation is shown to be feasible and acceptable, when delivered across multiple sessions, there would be scope for large-scale work to investigate its effectiveness as an approach to enable health-care professionals to de-stress, relax and optimise their mental well-being. In turn, this may consequently reduce turnover and improve stress-related sick leave across health-care services.

Work-Related Stressors and Coping Strategies of Nurses in a Selected Tertiary Hospital in a City in the Philippines

Background: Nurses may experience stress at work due to reasons like job overload, lack of sleep, a feeling of lack of support, and many more. Therefore, nurses must have coping strategies in place to provide all patients with the best possible care. The aim of this study is to determine the significant relationship between work-related stressors and the coping strategies of the nurses in a selected tertiary hospital in Bulacan by identifying their profile variables, their work-related stressors, and their coping strategies. Methods: Adapted survey questionnaires were answered by 206 nurses working in different areas of the Bulacan Medical Center in a self-administered manner, and 166 data points were suitable for data analysis. Nurses have diverse profiles. The data obtained were analyzed using different statistical treatments – percentage, weighted mean, one-way ANOVA t- test, and Pearson r to yield the needed results for the study. Results: Work-related stressors (F=3.571, p&lt;.001, &amp; η^2=.263) and coping strategies (F=3.938, p&lt;.001, η^2=.283) have significant differences in their area of duty. As for their work-related stressors, it is evident that nurses perceive external stressors to be slightly more significant (M = 2.58) than internal stressors (M = 2.49). For coping, nurses often employ problem-focused strategies (M = 3.04) to deal with stressors in their work environment than emotional coping strategies (M = 2.68). With regards to the correlation between work-related stressors and coping strategies, there is a moderate positive correlation between the two (r=.521, p&lt;.001). Conclusion: The findings of the study confirmed the presence of both external and internal work-related stressors among nurses. External stressors such as workload, conflicts at work, and dealing with difficult patients and their families were identified as significant sources of stress. Internal factors, including high expectations, feelings of inadequacy, and negative emotions during task performance, were also found to contribute to nurses' stress levels. This study confirmed that age, civil status, length of service, sex, and employment status did not significantly influence nurses' experiences of work-related stress or their choice of coping strategies. The result of this study concludes that work-related stressors and coping strategies are impacted by their area of assignment. Nurses working in critical care units, such as emergency rooms and intensive care units, experienced higher levels of stress compared to those in other areas. Nurses who experienced higher levels of work-related stress were more likely to employ coping strategies to manage and regulate stressful events. In light of this, it also concludes that work-related stressors and coping strategies of the nurses in Bulacan Medical Center are correlated with each other. In line with the significant correlation between work-related stressors and the coping strategies of nurses, it can be concluded that in the nursing profession, resiliency is prevalent even in stressful situations. Additionally, in this study, it was also highlighted that nurses employ problem-focused coping more than emotion-focused coping. This also implies how nurses in a clinical setting are more likely to be self-composed for them to formulate an organized and planned action in the presence of conflict.

COVID-19's impact on worker stress in human service organizations: The mediating role of inclusion.

Human service organizations faced extraordinary challenges due to COVID-19. Despite the increasing interest and research in this new scenario, there has been limited discussion about the impact of COVID-19 on workers, the challenges they faced, and the resulting stress. This study aimed to analyze the impact of COVID-19 on work-related stress and the mediating role of inclusion among workers in human service organizations in Chile during the pandemic. The research design was quantitative and involved a sample of 173 workers from civil society organizations who were contacted during the pandemic. The study confirmed that individuals most affected by the pandemic experienced higher levels of work-related stress, and that inclusion played a negative mediating role in this relationship. This article highlights the importance of relationships, decision-making processes, and access to information in reducing stress in post-COVID scenarios for organizations that traditionally handle crises.

Prevalence of Depression and Subjective Job Stress Among Men who have Sex with Men and Transgender Community Health Workers in Pakistan.

To determine the prevalence of depression, subjective work-related stress and associated factors among men who have sex with men and transgender people working in community-based organisations in Pakistan. Cross-sectional descriptive study. Place and Duration of the Study: Community-based organisations in Lahore, October 2022. Community-based organisations were contacted and link of the study tool in the Urdu language was shared. The study tool consisted of sociodemographic questions, substance abuse history, Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ) 9, the General Self-Efficacy Scale (GSE), and the Subjective job stress scale (SJSS). The composite score for each scale was calculated and compared. A total of 91 men participated in the study. Of them, 52.1% were below 30 years of age. The mean PHQ-9 score was 7.62 (range 0-27), mean GSE score was 32.38 (range 12-40), and mean SJSS score was 10.48 (4-14). While 41.7% of the participants were not depressed, 31.77% had depression of at least moderate severity. About 56.52% of the study participants had an SJSS score of more than ten showing a high level of work-related stress. There is a high frequency of depression among MSM and TG community health workers. High degree of self-efficacy may protect against depression. There is a need of developing comprehensive referral systems with psychiatric units for these community workers. Community health workers, Homosexual men, Transgender, Depression.

The Mental Health Status of Offshore Oil Platform Workers during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Nigeria

Previous studies indicated that offshore workers have a high level of work-related stress on an everyday basis. This study aims to assess the prevalence and determinants of mental health conditions in offshore oil platform workers during the COVID-19 pandemic. Workers of three oil and gas platforms were assessed in this cross-sectional study. Their mental status was evaluated by the post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD-8) questionnaire, and Depression Anxiety, Stress Scales (DASS) questionnaires. Furthermore, we assessed satisfaction with life (SWL) with a single question. Finally, multivariate logistic regression was used to determine the association of demographic and work-related variables with mental health outcomes. Overall, 278 (Males:197, Females: 81) out of 315 invited workers with a mean age of 35.6 (SD: 7.2) years were included in this study using a random sampling method (participation rate: 88.2%). PTSD symptoms and Insomnia were observed in 9 (3.2%) and 138 (49.6%) of the participants, respectively. The prevalence of stress, anxiety, and depressive symptoms were 72 (25.9%),70 (24.6%), and 85 (30.5%), respectively. Based on multivariable (adjusted) logistic regression analysis, women had significantly higher odds of stress and anxiety than men; those with an academic education were significantly more dissatisfied with their lives than those without an academic education. Our findings revealed a high prevalence of anxiety, depressive symptoms, and stress among offshore oil platformers during the COVID- 19 pandemic, especially in women. Indicating that women and those with a higher education level in the oil platform work settings are more susceptible to stressors.

Intensive Neurofeedback Protocol: An Alpha Training to Improve Sleep Quality and Stress Modulation in Health Care Professionals During the Covid-19 Pandemic. A Pilot Study.

health care workers (HCWs) represent a vulnerable group in the COVID-19 pandemic, given the exposure to greater risk and higher levels of work-related stress. Neurofeedback (NF) has shown to be effective in the treatment of stress-related symptoms. We aimed to assess the effectiveness of an alpha-increase NF protocol for the treatment of acute stress symptoms in HCWs exposed to the COVID-19 pandemic. eighteen medical doctors on duty during the COVID-19 health emergency underwent an intensive NF alpha-increase protocol. The mean alpha wave values were recorded at the beginning (T0) and at the last day of stimulation (T1). Rapid Stress Assessment: Italian version; Copenhagen Burnout Inventory (CBI); Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), and Brief-COPE were administered as psychometric assessment. a significant increase in alpha wave values and a significant reduction of the PSQI scores from T0 to T1 were found. NF alpha-increase protocol showed promising results in terms of stress modulation, sleep quality improvement, and safety in a pilot sample of HCWs.

Relationships Between Psychosocial Factors and Mental Health Among Nurses Working With COVID-19 Patients in Japan

Background Nurses who work with COVID-19 patients may suffer high levels of work-related stress, anxiety, and depressive symptoms. These impacts raise concerns about the deterioration of their mental health during this time. Objective This study examines the relationships between psychosocial factors (health, behavior, social, and economic factors) and mental health on among nurses working in a COVID-19 ward in Japan. Design A cross-sectional questionnaire-based study design was adopted. Methods We randomly selected 41 general hospitals that had over 400 beds. The participants were nurses who cared for COVID-19 patients at five hospitals. The questionnaire was completed by 56 nurses (seven men and 49 women) (response rate 46.6%). The survey asked participants about their basic attributes (gender, age, years of experience). It also included the Japanese version of the Patient Health Questionnaire-9, the Japanese version of the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7, the Japanese version of the Impact of Event Scale-Revised, and the Maslach Burnout Inventory-General Survey to measure depression, anxiety, trauma experience, and burnout, respectively. To determine psychosocial factors, perception of damage from harmful rumors, nurses’ intention to quit their jobs, working environment changes, and changes in daily life were measured. Results Intention to quit was specifically associated with “wanting to continue nursing,” the posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptom of avoidance, depression, anxiety, and burnout. Nurses who had experienced the impact of harmful rumors in the workplace had high levels of PTSD symptoms, including intrusion, avoidance, and hyperarousal, as well as depression, anxiety disorder, and burnout cynicism. Regarding changes in the working environment, significant differences were confirmed in PTSD symptoms including intrusion, avoidance, and hyperarousal, as well as depression. We also examined the relationship between changes in daily life and mental health. We found that answering affirmatively to “the family income has decreased,” “I’ve had family problems,” and “I cannot do housework” related to mental health disorders among the nurses. Consideration: Psychosocial factors that may have been exacerbated during the COVID-19 pandemic were found to affect nurses’ mental health. Thus, reducing these psychosocial factors and building a mental health support system for nurses is crucial.

The relationships between teachers' emotional health and stress coping.

Teaching is a profession that involves challenges to emotional health. Teachers experience high levels of work-related stress, which causes symptoms such as anxiety, depression and burnout. Teachers' mental health affects not only their own well-being, but also the quality of education and student achievement. Coping strategies can effectively improve teachers' emotional health. The aim of this study is to assess the relationship between teachers' emotional health and stress coping. The sample consisted of 385 teachers from Lithuania, with an average age of 50.2 (±9.62) years and 24.9 (±11.8) years of school experience. The WHO-5, the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K6), the Spanish Burnout Inventory, Educational Version (SBI-Ed) and the Coping Strategies Scale were used in the study. The study results show that teachers' age, seniority, size of residence, and marital status do not affect their emotional health, but their financial situation and hobbies have a positive impact on enthusiasm. Effective coping strategies such as problem solving, exercise, and hobbies improve emotional well-being, whereas negative coping methods such as self-isolation and alcohol consumption lead to psychological distress and lower enthusiasm at work.

Stress among Critical Care Nurses: A Cross-sectional Study

Background: In intensive care units, the frequency with which nurses interact with patients who are afflicted with diseases that pose a threat to their lives, the work environment in which nurses are employed is among the most stressful of all professional settings. It is a known truth that nurses may be subjected to a range of pressures at work, some of which may be related to the admittance of patients or the obligations of the organization. The consequences of occupational stress on nurses are a global problem that has greater importance in practice than they do in any one geographic area. Objective: To investigate the frequency of factors that contribute to the high levels of work-related stress experienced by critical care nurses working in tertiary care hospitals. Methods: This cross-sectional study recruited 139 nurses providing critical care at tertiary care hospitals using a random sample method. Participants were registered nurses who worked in the nursing profession for at least three months and were certified by the Pakistan Nursing Council. A questionnaire that the participants answered on their own time was used to collect the data for this study. The information was interpreted with the use of descriptive statistics, and the results were presented with the assistance of tables, charts, and percentages. Results: It was demonstrated that just 2.9% of participants reported severe level of stress, even though the majority of participants (55.4%) reported experiencing moderate level of stress while 41.7% of nurses reported mild stress. The eight determinants of stress experienced by intensive care unit nurses are calculated and workload-related stress was found to be the most frequent source of stress affecting 50.4% of nurses. Conclusion: It is concluded that all nurses who worked in vital areas experienced some amount of stress, majority of them deal with moderate level of work-related stress.

The mental health status of offshore oil platform workers during the COVID-19 pandemic.

BackgroundPrevious studies indicated that offshore workers have a high level of work-related stress on an everyday basis. This study aims to assess the prevalence and determinants of mental health conditions in offshore oil platform workers during the COVID-19 pandemic.MethodsWorkers of three oil and gas platforms were assessed in this cross-sectional study. Their mental status was evaluated by the Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD-8) questionnaire, and Depression Anxiety, Stress Scales (DASS) questionnaires. Furthermore, we assessed satisfaction with life (SWL) with a single question. Finally, multivariate logistic regression was used to determine the association of demographic and work-related variables with mental health outcomes.ResultsOverall, 278 (Males:197, Females: 81) out of 315 invited workers with a mean age of 35.6 (SD: 7.2) years were included in this study using a random sampling method (participation rate: 88.2%). PTSD symptoms and Insomnia were observed in 9 (3.2%) and 138 (49.6%) of the participants, respectively. The prevalence of stress, anxiety, and depressive symptoms were 72 (25.9%), 70 (24.6%), and 85 (30.5%), respectively. Based on multivariable (adjusted) logistic regression analysis, women had significantly higher odds of stress and anxiety than men; those with an academic education were significantly more dissatisfied with their lives than those without an academic education.ConclusionOur findings revealed a high prevalence of anxiety, depressive symptoms, and stress among offshore oil platformers during the COVID-19 pandemic, especially in women. Indicating that women and those with a higher education level in the oil platform work settings are more susceptible to stressors.

The impact of clinical experience on working tasks and job-related stress: a survey among 1032 Norwegian GPs

BackgroundGeneral practice is a generalist discipline fraught with complexity. For inexperienced physicians, it may be demanding to get to grips with the clinical challenges. The purpose of this article is to describe possible differences in the range of tasks between inexperienced and experienced general practitioners (GPs), and the extent to which clinical experience affects the way in which GPs perceive their daily work.MethodsAn online questionnaire was sent to all regular GPs in Norway (N = 4784) in 2018. The study sought to document the tasks performed during a typical working day and how the GPs perceived their working situation. In this study, we compare the tasks, working situation and occurrence of potentially conflictual consultations among ‘less experienced physicians’ (≤ 5 years of experience in general practice) versus ‘more experienced physicians’ (> 5 years of experience). The findings are discussed in light of theories on development of expertise.ResultsWe received responses from 1032 GPs; 296 (29%) were less experienced and 735 (71%) more experienced. The two groups reported virtually the same number of consultations (19.2 vs. 20.5) and clinical problems handled (40.4 vs. 44.2) during the study day. The less experienced physicians reported a higher proportion of challenging and/or conflictual consultations, involving prescriptions for potentially addictive medication (5.7% vs. 3.1%), sickness certification (4.1% vs. 2.4%) and referral for medical investigations on weak clinical indication (8.1% vs. 5.6%). For other clinical issues there were minor or no differences. Both GP groups reported high levels of work-related stress with negative effect on self-perceived health (61.6% vs 64.6%). GPs who felt that high job demands harmed their health tended to handle a slightly higher number of medical issues per consultation and more consultations with elements of conflict.Conclusions and implicationsInexperienced GPs in Norway handle a workload comparable to that of experienced GPs, but they perceive more conflictual consultations. These findings have relevance for training and guidance of future GP specialists. Irrespective of experience, the GPs report such high levels of negative work-related stress as to indicate an acute need for organisational changes that imply a reduced workload.

Contributing factors to turnover intentions of early career project management professionals in construction

The construction industry is facing global skills shortages, with demand for certain roles (such as project managers) projected to outstrip supply over the next decade. With the industry serving as the backbone of the economy in many countries, this projected lack of skilled construction professionals poses dire consequences. This qualitative study investigated the early career transition of project management (PM) professionals into the construction industry. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 18 employer representatives and 20 early career professionals to ascertain the factors affecting the turnover intentions of early career PM professionals in construction. From the perspective of the early participants in this study, the major factors affecting their intentions to leave were related to workplace culture: (i) bad workplace behaviour; (ii) high levels of work-related stress; and (iii) poor work-life balance. While employers also noted that bullying and long working hours contributed to early career PM professionals’ intentions to leave the industry, they believed that the key contributing factor was that young employees were seeking higher salaries. These findings on the need to improve workplace culture have the potential to positively influence the issue of early career retention within the construction industry.

Mental Health and Wellbeing of Secondary School Teachers in Malaysia

The teaching profession has been consistently ranked as the most stressful job in the world today. Teachers who experience prolonged exposure to high levels of work-related stress can find there to be a detrimental effect on their physical health, mental health, social life, and work performance. This study aims to characterise the mental health and wellbeing of secondary school teachers in Malaysia according to gender and age group. We examined burnout levels among 776 secondary school teachers who were measured across three dimensions (i.e., depersonalisation, emotional exhaustion, and personal accomplishment), as well as their sources of stress, manifestations of stress, and psychological symptoms. The quantitative data analysis revealed that most of the teachers had experienced burnout in terms of their personal accomplishments, work-related stressors, and time management, and that it mostly manifested as fatigue. Overall, the sample of secondary school teachers in Malaysia indicates a risk of poor mental health. Further psychological interventions and self-care programs are suggested to help secondary school teachers cope with the early signs of burnout.

The support and supervision needs of prison officers working within prison environments. An empty systematic review

ABSTRACT Prison is an integral part of the criminal justice system. When we consider prison, we tend to focus on incarcerated prisoners and their needs. The pressures experienced by prison officers, taking care of prisoners, have continued to intensify, causing prison officers to experience high levels of work-related stress, mental and physical ill health and concerns for their own safety. It is therefore surprising the support and supervision needs of prison officers, working with prisoners within prison environments, have been overlooked. A systematic search of literature was conducted using eight electronic databases: Medline, Social Policy and Practice, AMED, PsycINFO, Pub Med, EMBASE, ASSIA and Sage publications. Grey literature was also searched in addition to reference lists of retrieved full articles. All searches were conducted during May 2021. This systematic review did not yield any studies that met all the inclusion and assessment criteria. Although one paper explored the support and supervision practices for prison officers working within specialist prison environments; there were no papers on the support and supervision needs of typical prison officers, working within typical prison environments. The result of this review highlights a major gap in the current literature and in our understanding of the emotional support and supervision needs of all prison officers. It is now imperative that these needs are identified and understood with the aim of providing a planned and consistent model of care, combining emotional wellbeing training, support and supervision that is beneficial and meaningful for all prison officers. In doing so, it is hoped, to increase prison officer morale, reduce physical and mental ill health and lead to greater job satisfaction and retention of prison officers, ultimately, providing a more restorative and supportive prison environment.

Efficacy of a Workplace Intervention Program With Web-Based Online and Offline Modalities for Improving Workers' Mental Health

ObjectiveThis study aims to examine the efficacy of the Workplace Web-based blended psychoeducation mental health intervention program. Of particular interest is the short-term effect of the intervention on workplace burnout, stress, quality of life, and the mental health literacy of workers.Methods and MaterialsThe study focused on employees (n = 456) in specific industries with high levels of work-related stress, adopting a phase III wait-listed cluster randomized controlled trial. Work-related burnout was assessed by the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI) and stress was measured using the stress subscale of the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress scale (DASS). Quality of Life was evaluated by the European Quality of Life-5 Dimensions (EQ-5D-5L) and Mental Health Literacy was assessed using the Australian National Mental Health Literacy and Stigma Survey. Data were analyzed as a trial with intention-to-treat analysis and adjustment for the clustering effect of work sites.ResultsSignificant differences between intervention and control groups were found on all outcome measures except the self-rated quality of life. The intervention group displayed a significant reduction in the weighted mean score of about 1.0 units (s.e. = 0.4) on the stress scale (p = 0.015) and an increase in the weighted mean score of 1.9 units (s.e. = 0.9) in the professional accomplishment domain of the MBI (p = 0.035). Significant increases were found in the weighted mean scores in the intervention group for correct recognition of the mental problems, help-seeking, and stigmatization, in comparison to the control group who scored 0.2 (s.e. = 0.1), 0.9 (s.e. = 0.2), 1.8 (s.e. = 0.4), respectively.ConclusionsThe results obtained from a comparison of the outcome measures between the intervention and control groups were statistically significant, indicating that the intervention group performed better on most measures. The study demonstrates that, in the short term. the on-and-offline modalities of the Web-based blended psychoeducation intervention program is efficacious in reducing workplace burnout and stress and promoting mental health literacy at the workplace.

Exploring the psychological impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on PICU consultants, advanced nurse practitioners and trainee doctors

Background: Paediatric intensive care unit (PICU) staff members are at risk of burnout, stress, and fatigue. The COVID-19 pandemic has affected how we live and work; we postulate this increases the risk of stress-related disorders. Aims: To explore the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the wellbeing of PICU clinicians. Methods: An anonymised, single-centre survey was sent to clinicians, comprising four sections: burnout, work-related stress, work-related fatigue, and work-life balance. Two free-text questions explored perceptions of work-life balance and measures to improve wellbeing. Results: 55.6% of respondents returned scores suggesting high burnout risk. 55.6% had answers suggesting work-related stress. 82.4% reported work-related fatigue. 55.5% felt that work-life balance had not improved during the pandemic. Conclusions: The proportion of staff at risk of burnout in this study is higher than that reported in pre-pandemic studies. Perceived work-life balance has been negatively impacted, and high levels of work-related stress and fatigue were identified.

Work Related Stress and its Causes among Selected Built Environment Academics in Nigerian Tertiary Institutions

Work related stress has negative effect on productivity and satisfaction among workers in various field. An important barrier to understanding how work-related stress affects individual academics in the built environment is scarcity of empirical studies in the area. As a result, this study aims at examining the main causes of stress and the level of risks associated with the stress among academics in the built environment. Questionnaires were administered to academics in the built environment faculties, schools and institutes offering courses such as Architecture, Building, Estate Management, Quantity surveying, Surveying and Geoinformatics and Urban and Regional Planning in the South West and North Central geopolitical zones of Nigeria. A systematic sampling technique was adopted to administer the questionnaire to respondents. The results show that work related stress among built environment academics is high (&gt;60% on work related stress grading scale) and causes were classified into organizational factors, job demand and job role. The most important risk factors were also identified as problem with office accommodation inadequate temperature control, lack of privacy (physical factors), poor communication, lack of career progression and job insecurity (organizational and job role factors). Due to the high level of work-related stress among academics in the built environment, their performance in discharging duties in terms of research and teaching have been affected. Management of higher institutions should provide incentives and enabling environment to individual lecturer to address those factors identified in other to improve their overall performance.

Alcohol Consumption and COVID-19-Related Stress Among Health Care Workers: The Need for Continued Stress-Management Interventions.

Although a known association exists between stress and alcohol consumption among health care workers (HCWs), it is not known how the COVID-19 pandemic has affected this association. We assessed pandemic work-related stress and alcohol consumption of HCWs. We emailed a cross-sectional, anonymous survey in June 2020 to approximately 550 HCWs at an academic hospital in New Orleans, Louisiana. HCWs from all departments were eligible to complete the survey. Questions measured work-related stress and emotional reactions to the pandemic (using the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome [MERS-CoV] Staff Questionnaire), depressive symptoms (using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 [PHQ-9]), coping habits (using the Brief COPE scale), and pre-COVID-19 (March 2020) and current (June 2020) alcohol consumption. We measured alcohol consumption using the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test-Consumption (AUDIT-C), with scores >3 considered positive. We asked 4 open-ended questions for in-depth analysis. One-hundred two HCWs participated in the survey. The average AUDIT-C scores for current and pre-COVID-19 alcohol consumption were 3.1 and 2.8, respectively. The level of current alcohol consumption was associated with avoidant coping (r = 0.46, P < .001). Relative increases in alcohol consumption from March to June 2020 were positively associated with PHQ-9 score and greater emotional reactions to the pandemic. Availability of mental health services was ranked second to last among desired supports. Qualitative data demonstrated high levels of work-related stress from potential exposure to COVID-19 and job instability, as well as social isolation and negative effects of the pandemic on their work environment. Ongoing prevention-based interventions that emphasize stress management rather than mental or behavioral health conditions are needed.