Anxiety levels and related symptoms in emergency nursing personnel in Greece
Journal
Journal of Emergency Nursing
Date Issued
July 2011
DOI
10.1016/j.jen.2010.03.006
Abstract
Introduction: Several studies provide evidence for the
association between work stress and mild psychiatric morbidity
among emergency nurses. These symptoms have not been
explored in Greek nursing personnel employed in emergency
departments. The aim of this descriptive correlational study was
to investigate the presence of anxiety and stress symptoms
among emergency nursing personnel in Greece.
Methods: The sample was composed of nursing personnel
employed in emergency departments of 8 adult General hospitals
in Greece (N = 213). The Hamilton Anxiety Scale was applied for
the quantitative assessment of anxiety symptoms, along with
demographic, vocational, and educational data. Descriptive
statistics were explored, and nonparametric comparisons, as well
as correlational tests, were performed.
Results: Anxiety levels were found to be mild (1.102 ± 0.53),
with women (P = .021, Mann-Whitney U test) and nursing
personnel employed in public sector hospitals (P = .029, MannWhitney
U test) having higher anxiety level scores. In addition, a
statistically significant mild correlation was observed between
work experience in the emergency department and anxiety states
(τ = 0.178, P = .011). The most commonly reported manifestations
of mild psychiatric symptomatology were sleep disturbances
(2.32 ± 1.2), anxious mood (1.57 ± 1.1), and depressed mood
(2.38 ± 1.2), with 24.8% of the participants reporting very severe
sleep disturbance, 23.9% reporting very severe depressive mood,
and 10.7% reporting very severe anxious mood.
Discussion: Hospital administrators need to be aware of the
extent of workplace stress and subsequent anxiety symptoms that
exist in emergency nurses. Staff counseling, continuing
professional education, and empowerment strategies may need to
be implemented to prevent psychiatric morbidity, as well as job
dissatisfaction and resignations.
association between work stress and mild psychiatric morbidity
among emergency nurses. These symptoms have not been
explored in Greek nursing personnel employed in emergency
departments. The aim of this descriptive correlational study was
to investigate the presence of anxiety and stress symptoms
among emergency nursing personnel in Greece.
Methods: The sample was composed of nursing personnel
employed in emergency departments of 8 adult General hospitals
in Greece (N = 213). The Hamilton Anxiety Scale was applied for
the quantitative assessment of anxiety symptoms, along with
demographic, vocational, and educational data. Descriptive
statistics were explored, and nonparametric comparisons, as well
as correlational tests, were performed.
Results: Anxiety levels were found to be mild (1.102 ± 0.53),
with women (P = .021, Mann-Whitney U test) and nursing
personnel employed in public sector hospitals (P = .029, MannWhitney
U test) having higher anxiety level scores. In addition, a
statistically significant mild correlation was observed between
work experience in the emergency department and anxiety states
(τ = 0.178, P = .011). The most commonly reported manifestations
of mild psychiatric symptomatology were sleep disturbances
(2.32 ± 1.2), anxious mood (1.57 ± 1.1), and depressed mood
(2.38 ± 1.2), with 24.8% of the participants reporting very severe
sleep disturbance, 23.9% reporting very severe depressive mood,
and 10.7% reporting very severe anxious mood.
Discussion: Hospital administrators need to be aware of the
extent of workplace stress and subsequent anxiety symptoms that
exist in emergency nurses. Staff counseling, continuing
professional education, and empowerment strategies may need to
be implemented to prevent psychiatric morbidity, as well as job
dissatisfaction and resignations.