ABSTRACT
AIM: The primary aim of this study was to identify the level of stress and the stressors having an impact on nurses compared with other medical workers in private IVF centres. BACKGROUND: Stressful working conditions can an adversely affect not only the health and well-being of health professionals but also subsequently to patient outcomes if care is given to infertile couples. This is of relevance particularly in view of Vietnam's recent economic growth and the increase in the number of private IVF centres. This is the first study looking at the levels of stress experienced by health workers (especially nurses) providing IVF services. DESIGN: A cross-sectional survey. METHODS: All health workers in seven IVF Clinics in HCMC were invited to complete an Occupational Stress Index (OSI) questionnaire. RESULTS: Of the invited 131 medical professionals, 105 (80%) completed the confidential self-administered questionnaire. Thirty-five participants (33.3%) were nurses, 19 (18.1%) were doctors and 51 (48.6%) were lab technicians. Approximately two-thirds reported not having children (67.6%), half (50.48%) married and three-quarters (76.2%) were women, with a significant difference by medical worker group (p < 0.05). Among the three groups, nurses have higher occupational stress index score compared with the others. The OSI score only had a strong relationship with the "high demand" (p < 0.001). Some demographic variables (e.g., income, long working hours, education level) statistically represented the high significant source of job stress.
