Job Stress of Medical Staff Working in COVID-19 and Non-COVID -19 Intensive Care Units, Iran: A Multicentre Study

Abstract

Background: The lack of any definitive treatment of COVID-19 has caused a great deal of stress in communities, especially for those fighting in the front line. In the present study, job stress of medical staff working in Intensive Care Units (ICUs) of patients with COVID-19 was evaluated and compared with staff working in non-COVID-19 ICUs. Methods: This study was performed in Iran with a study population of 80 staff members including nurses, paramedics, supervisors and other medical staff working in ICUs of COVID-19 and non-COVID-19 patients. The Osipow questionnaire was used to assess the job stress level. Results: The mean age of medical staff was 29.72±7.58 years old. The stress score of the male medical staff of ICUs of patients with COVID19 was significantly higher than the female staff and the average stress of employees in night shifts (190.60) was significantly higher than those in the morning and afternoon shifts. In the dimension of responsibility for COVID-19 ICU employees, working in the service department, having a history of COVID-19 infection, working in the NICU and having first-degree relatives with COVID19 caused significantly higher job stress levels. In the dimension of responsibility for non-COVID-19 ICU employees, working in the clinical ward and in the role of boundary dimension, being a supervisor caused significantly higher job stress levels compared to the rest of the staff. Conclusion: It can be concluded that ICU staff are under high pressure during the COVID-19 pandemic in different hospitals of Iran and they need more support to improve their mental health. Copyright 2023, Journal of Iranian Medical Council.