Determinants of Occupational Stress among Health Workers in the Accident and Emergency Departments in Mulago and Kirundu National Referal Hospitals in Kampala

Abstract

Occupational stress is an extensive matter rising from the interaction between job-related elements and an individual's psychological and physiological condition. It has become a universal concern. Beyond the personal well-being of individuals, the effects of occupational stress impact the dynamics of organizations, productivity, and the health of the workforce. Healthcare workers, in pressure settings like the Emergency Department, experience a more volume of occupational stress compared to other professions. The study employed a cross-sectional research methodology to investigate factors contributing to occupational stress among healthcare professionals in the Accident and Emergency Departments of two hospitals in Kampala. A census sampling method was used to include all eligible participants due to the small number of healthcare workers (73) in these departments. Data collection utilized the new Brief Job Stress Questionnaire with 57 items assessing occupational stressors, stress reactions, and buffering factors, alongside six additional items evaluating coping mechanisms. Data analysis was conducted at three levels—univariate, bivariate, and multivariate. Chi-square analysis was used at the bivariate level to identify significant associations between demographic, occupational characteristics, and stress levels, providing insights into the determinants of occupational stress. The participants were predominantly young (51.6% aged 20–30), female (60.9%), and working as nurses (51.6%) or doctors (45.3%), with most having 1–5 years of experience in their roles. The study revealed that 53.13% of respondents experienced moderate stress, while 26.56% reported high stress levels. Key factors associated with stress included age, marital status, education level, work hours, shift schedules, years of experience, church attendance, and involvement in extracurricular activities. Logistic regression identified that limited experience in the department (1–5 years) and longer working hours were significant predictors of stress, while participation in extracurricular activities reduced the likelihood of stress. The study also highlighted mixed coping strategies, with reliance on friends, faith, or personal time. The study highlighted work experience, hours worked, education level and coping mechanisms as key determinants of Occupational stress. By identifying these stressors, the findings provide a foundation for developing targeted interventions to mitigate stress and promote the well-being of healthcare workers in high-demand environments.