ABSTRACT
Background: Job stress is a psycho-social stress that is created as a result of harsh working conditions and effects individuals' performance and physical and mental health. In fact, many mental and psychological health problems are directly related to job stress. Stress at the workplace could even create disabilities in some cases. The nature of work at hospitals, especially operating rooms, generates a lot of stress and tension for the staff
Objectives: This study aimed at evaluating the effect of stress management on stress of operating room personnel, working at hospitals affiliated to Shiraz University of Medical Sciences
Methods: In this randomized controlled interventional study, 201 females were selected from 463 operating room nurses, who worked in educational hospitals affiliated to Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, using block randomization and their basic job stress scores were measured. Then, from 87 nurses with job stress mean scores of > 150, 60 were selected using the table of random numbers and were divided into 2 groups of 30, using the RA software. The intervention group participated in 5 sessions of stress management training program, while the control group did not receive any intervention. Job stress score was evaluated in the 2 groups, two months after the intervention. The data were collected using demographic information and the Osipow job stress questionnaires. The data were then entered in the SPSS statistical software, version 18 and analyzed by descriptive and inferential methods [chi-square, independent t-test, and paired t-test]. P values of < 0.05 were considered statistically significant
Results: The results showed no significant differences between the 2 groups in terms of underlying variables [P > 0.05]. Also, no significant difference was found between the 2 groups regarding the mean score of total job stress before the intervention [P = 0.96]. However, significant differences were observed between the 2 groups concerning the dimensions of job stress, including incompetence of the role [0< 0.001], responsibility [0 < 0.001]
Conclusions: This study indicated that stress management training could reduce job stress among female nurses working in operating rooms. Therefore, stress management training in administrative, clinical, and educational areas seems to be necessary for operating room nurses