REDUCING THE JOB-RELATED STRESS AMONG NURSING OFFICERS IN A BASE HOSPITAL, SRI LANKA

Introduction: Stress is a one of risk factors affecting all health categories including nursing officers.

Objective: To implement a Mindfulness Base Stress Reduction (MBSR) intervention for nursing officers at base hospital Horana Sri Lanka.

Methodology: Intervention study with randomizing nursing officers for two groups (i.e., control group and intervention group) was conducted in Base hospital, Horana. A sample of 96 nursing officers was randomized to two groups. Prior to randomization, baseline stress level was assessed by Expanded Nursing Stress Scale (ENSS). A six-week mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) package was implemented for intervention group. Similar to the baseline assessment, effectiveness of the MBSR package was assessed following the implementation in both groups. Student t test was used to compare intervention and non-intervention group.

Initially, 48 participants were selected for each arm. Out of the remaining participants, 42 in non-intervention group and 41 in the intervention group were completed the post intervention assessment, successfully. 

Results: Several aspects of stress were improved with the intervention. As examples, perception of stress due to issues of inpatient care including procedure painful to patient (p =001), The death of a patient with whom you develop with a close relationship ( p<0.001)), Physician(s)not being present when patients dying ( p =0.001), watching the patient suffer( p <0.001), were significantly improved in the intervention group.

Conclusion: Result of present study shows benefits of MBSR intervention to reduce perception of stress among nursing officers. The MBSR package is recommended for other hospitals.