Analysis of the Dimensions and Influential Factors in Occupational Stress in the Operating Room Staff of the Teaching Hospitals in Shahrekord, Iran (2017)

The operating room environment is considered to be a stressful workplace due to its special conditions. Due to the debilitative effects of occupational stress, the present study aimed to assess and describe occupational stress in operating room staff.

This descriptive-analytical study was conducted using Osipow job stress questionnaire to measure the occupational stress of the operating room staff at the teaching hospitals affiliated to Shahrekord University of Medical Sciences, Iran. The sample size consisted of 120, including operating room technology graduates and anesthesiologists, who were selected via census sampling.

The majority of the participants were married women (mean age: 33.66±6.377 years) with the mean work experience of 10.02±6.259 years. Based on Osipow job stress questionnaire, 71% of the subjects achieved occupational stress scores of 150-199, and the highest level of occupational stress was observed in the physical environment and workload. No significant correlations were observed between occupational stress and age, gender, work experience, marital status, and academic education, while the number of children was correlated with occupational stress (P=0.022).

The level of occupational stress in the operating room staff was moderate to severe, and proper strategies must be adopted for the improvement of their physical work environment and adjustment of their workload.