Perceived Stress and Coping Styles with Stressful Situations among the Residents of Surgery and Anesthesiology in Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Iran

Stress is unavoidable among the medical profession, and has become an integral part of professional life in some fields such as surgery and anesthesia. The aim of the present study was to determine the perceived stress with coping styles of stressful situations among the residents of surgery and anesthesiology.

 The present study was a cross-sectional descriptive-analytical study in Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran, in 2019. The samples were enrolled the study using census sampling method. The data collection tool was a questionnaire that included three questionnaires of demographic characteristics, perceived stress scale, and questionnaire to deal with stressful situations. The data were evaluated using descriptive statistics, and chi-square, one-way ANOVA, and Tukey tests via SPSS software.

The mean perceived stress did not differ significantly between the two groups of surgery and anesthesiology residents (P = 0.370). There was a significant relationship between the age and frequency of stress management styles among surgery residents (P = 0.020). Surgery residents significantly used problem-oriented coping method more when the mean perceived stress level was lower (P = 0.011). In the anesthesiology group, the level of stress level was almost the same in all three coping styles, and there was no significant difference (P = 0.160). Moreover, using the Tukey test, in the surgical group, the mean perceived stress level was significantly less when using problem-oriented coping style, compared to emotion-centered stress coping style (P = 0.008).

 Among surgery residents, low perceived stress is an effective factor in the use of effective (problem-oriented) method in dealing with stress. Increasing in age and experience in the field of work, make people use effective coping style; possibly, having more responsibility in the operating room makes the surgery residents use more effective and efficient ways to deal with stress.