Prevalence and Risk Factors Underlying Occupational Stress and Depression Among Clinical Nurses in Secondary and Tertiary Hospitals of China During COVID-19 Setting

Abstract

Xiao-kun Liu,1,* Dan-ling Huang,1,2,* Li-ping Meng,1 Wei Cheng,1 Yi-yi Li,1 Lu-lu Qin,3 Ao Yang,4 Fan Zeng,5 Qin Zou,1 Qi-fu Li6 1Clinical Psychology Department, The First Affiliated Hospital of Hainan Medical University, Haikou City, Hainan Province, People’s Republic of China; 2Neurology Department, Graduate School of Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin City, People’s Republic of China; 3Department of Social Medicine and Health Management, School of Medicine, Hunan Normal University, Changsha City, Hunan Province, People’s Republic of China; 4Health Management Department, School of Management of Hainan Medical University, Haikou City, Hainan Province, People’s Republic of China; 5Graduate School of Hainan Medical University, Haikou City, Hainan Province, People’s Republic of China; 6Neurology Department, The First Affiliated Hospital of Hainan Medical University, Haikou City, Hainan Province, People’s Republic of China*These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Xiao-kun Liu; Qi-fu Li, Email [email protected]; [email protected]: This study was designed to develop an effective measurement tool for occupational stress among medical staff and to identify the underlying risk factors among clinical nurses in China under depression during and after COVID-19.Methods: In the first stage, an occupational stress scale was developed for medical staff based on qualitative and quantitative methods. The dimensions of the scale were based on childhood stress and seven other parameters of working stress. In the second stage, a provincial survey was conducted among clinical nurses in Hainan. The structure of Medical Staff Occupational Stress Scale was tested in secondary and tertiary hospitals. The socio-demographic information, occupational stress (measured using the developed scale), and current depression symptoms (assessed with the nine‐item Patient Health Questionnaire) were evaluated. The risk factors for occupational stress-induced depression were tested using multivariate logistic regression.Results: The Medical Staff Occupational Stress Scale consisted of 42 items under eight dimensions with strong reliability and validity. Almost 80% of the clinical nurses reported obvious symptoms of depression. Based on multivariate logistical regression analysis, the significant risk factors for depression in nurses at secondary hospitals and tertiary hospitals were childhood stress, teaching stress, relationship with patient stress, and administration stress.Conclusion: The Medical Staff Occupational Stress Scale utilized in nursing population is based on strong psychometric features. Childhood stress contributes to occupational stress in nurses. The selection of nurses for clinical work may require evaluation of past history for childhood stress to prevent occupational depression. Teaching stress, relationship with patient stress and administration stress play significant roles in the prevention of depression among clinical nurses.Keywords: occupational stress, depression, teaching stress, relationship with patient stress, nurses

Keywords

• occupational stress
• depression
• teaching stress
• relationship with patient stress
• nurses