PREVALENCE AND FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH STRESS AMONGST NURSES IN TERTIARY CARE HOSPITALS OF PESHAWAR
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Keywords
Tertiary care hospitals, Coping Mechanisms, Mental Health, Workplace Stress
Abstract
Nursing is a highly demanding profession, particularly in tertiary care settings where workloads are intense and patient cases are complex. Stress among nurses not only compromises their well-being but also impacts the quality of patient care. In regions like Peshawar, where healthcare systems face resource constraints and high patient loads, understanding the stress experienced by nurses is crucial for developing supportive interventions.
Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted across three major tertiary care hospitals in Peshawar: Hayatabad Medical Complex, Naseer Teaching Hospital, and Maqsood Medical Complex. A total of 402 nurses were approached, with 366 participating (response rate: 90.59%). Data were collected using a pretested structured questionnaire assessing stress levels, associated factors, and coping mechanisms. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze the data.
Results: The prevalence of stress among nurses was found to be 83%. The majority of nurses were young, with 79.2% under 34 years of age, and 55.5% were married. Educationally, 63.4% held a diploma, while 35% had a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. Key workplace stressors included: perceived insincerity of doctors during patient interactions (36.3% frequently stressed, 13.7% always stressed), disrespect for patient autonomy (31.4% frequently stressed), patient severe pain (32.8% frequently stressed), uncooperative patient attitudes (28.1% frequently stressed), and encountering patient death (28.7% frequently stressed). Coping strategies varied, with many nurses employing self-reflection, positive reframing, humor, and lifestyle adjustments, though a notable portion relied on passive approaches such as waiting for stress to subside.
Conclusion: This study shows that Nurses in the tertiary hospitals of Peshawar experience a high stress load due to excessive clinical work, difficult patients’ attitudes and hard doctor-nurse relationship. Although positive coping is employed by many, passive strategies continue to be common. Enhanced organizational support and specific-stress management interventions are required to safeguard nurse well-being and enhance patient care.
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Yusra Tabassum
Dental Technology Department, Iqra National University, Swat, Pakistan
Babar Ahad
Kabir institute of Public Health, Gandhara University, Peshawar, Pakistan.
Shahid Ali
Community Dentistry Department, Saidu College of Dentistry, Swat, Pakistan
Junaid Ali
Dental Technology Department, Iqra National University, Swat, Pakistan
Syed Azhar Ali Shah
Community Dentistry Department, Saidu College of Dentistry, Swat, Pakistan
Hamid Hussain
Community Dentistry Department, Saidu College of Dentistry, Swat, Pakistan
Ghazala Yasmin
Dental Technology Department, Iqra National University, Swat, Pakistan
